Tip-toeing through the tulips at the Flower Market
mabroda May 15th, 2009
Compared to the algal blooms of the previous day, our first stop on Friday morning gave us a glimpse of nature blooming in a different form. After passing fields and fields of greenhouses, we arrived at the Kunming flower auction.
Though things were wrapping up when we arrived, the displays of roses, carnations, lilies and other assorted flowers–most being readied for transport to markets in China and abroad–were impressive nonetheless. And the prices were rock bottom. One huge bouquet of roses, for example, was selling for about $1.25. As it turns out, growing and selling flowers is the third largest industry in Yunnan Province, following tobacco and tourism.