Li Hao
MORE than 1,000 booths for the 30th Shenzhen Spring Festival Flower Fair went under the hammer Saturday with prices lower than last year.
Booth number 046 in area A was sold for 15,200 yuan (US$2,284), the highest price this year.
But it was much lower than the record price of 20,000 yuan last year paid for booth number 001.
A woman, surnamed Wang, bid 12,800 yuan for the 001 booth, which is usually the most sought after because it was closest to the entrance.
It was the first time I took part in the auction. I plan to sell orchids, said Wang.
Although booths numbered 001 to 010 all sold for more than 5,000 yuan, the average price of all booths sold declined slightly this year.
The lower price reflects that florists and retailers are becoming more rational. At previous fairs, the 001 booth was taken by the same florist, prompting other florists to compete for the booth, leading to a high price. However, this florist gave up the 001 booth this year, switching attention to booths numbered 002 to 004, said Huang Wenye, head of the flower fair management office.
A florist from Guangzhou, surnamed Zhang, said the cold weather raging across the country would push up the cost of flowers and have a negative effect on market confidence.
Huang said, however, that the flower fair management office would update florists with weather information.
The office estimated there would be more than 1 million visitors to the annual five-day flower fair, which opens on Aiguo Road in Luohu District on Jan. 29
The auction attracted hundreds of bidders with a reserve price of 2,000 yuan for each booth.
The 510 booths in the areas A, B, C and D will sell pot plants, fresh flowers, potted landscapes and root carvings. The 115 booths in Area E will sell flower handcraft.
Booths in areas F and G will retail jewelry, toys and festive decorations.
Spring Festival couplets, paintings and calligraphy will be available in Area H.
