Introduction

Yunnan is a major flower production province, with claims that it produces 7 out of 10 branches of cut flowers; the Kunming Dounan Flower Market is also the largest in China. I had read about it in a travelogue and decided to definitely come to Kunming to check it off my list. Although it's not a scenic spot, there are still many tourists visiting it every day. Compared to Dianchi Lake or Stone Forest, I think it's worth coming to because this kind of experience is really rare. Perhaps you can only experience it in Kunming, where you can buy flowers at wholesale prices, and see a sea of flowers – it's truly a wonderful sight!

Because I had read the beforehand, I knew the best time to visit Dounan Flower Market was in the evening, so after visiting the former Southwest United University site in the afternoon, I took a bus and then transferred to the subway for about an hour to get there. When I arrived, I had to walk for another 10 minutes.

During the day, there are also flowers for sale in Dounan, but the scale is not as large as in the evening, and it's not as lively. If you just want to buy cheap flowers, coming during the day is actually okay. There are also old ladies selling flowers by carrying them on a (danzi – pole), and they sell very cheaply. If you want to experience the bustling flower wholesale trading, you need to come after 8 pm. At night is also when the cut flowers are freshest.

As for why flowers are traded in the evening, it's to ensure maximum freshness. They are shipped out early in the morning, arranged and flown to various parts of China and abroad, ensuring freshness arrives the next day.

Entering Dounan Flower Market

Before 8 pm, there are also many sellers outside the market selling flowers, all piled up in bundles – they're selling them like vegetables. These small flower shops won't be restricted by time and will open day and night, but the prices will likely be a bit higher than in the market.

You can see all kinds of flowers you've never seen before here, it's a place you won't get tired of looking at, and, truly, the prices are wholesale! I really feel that Kunming people are so lucky to be able to buy flowers so cheaply every day!

Around dusk, there are many bundles sold in bulk and also retail sales. It takes about a fifteen minute walk from the subway station.

8 pm opens, and people flock in, and flower vendors push their carts in, and they're squeezed in, I didn't come in by myself, but by the crowd; after the stalls are set up, you can start browsing.

Such as (wu wang wo – Forget-Me-Not), (hai xing – Starfish), (man tian xing – Cosmos), (yang lan – Orchid), (afu jin gu – African Daisy), (tie pao – Cannonball Flower), (Ma Ke Bo Lu – Marco Polo), (jin bai he – Golden Lily), (huang bai he – Yellow Lily), (xi bo – Purple Poppy), (yuan shou – General Flower), (suer bang – Soul Flower), (tang chang pu – Sword Leek), etc. Whether we can name them or not, there are all here, and you can roughly know which are more popular and expensive by looking at the packaging and arrangement.

There's a specific area mainly selling (bai he – Lilies) – all kinds of lilies.

Wrapped (man tian xing – Cosmos) and (xiao chu jiu – Baby Rose) , which are very cheap and beautiful, I've never seen so many colors of (man tian xing – Cosmos).

(san ke – individual buyers) touring is just a small part of the image promotion of Dounan; Dounan is not a scenic spot, just like its full name – Dounan Flower Market Trading Center, its essence is still a flower wholesale market. There are more than ten thousand people visiting it every day.

Flower vendors are constantly pruning the flower branches and weighing them.

Wrapped (meigui – Rose) - the cheapest can be bought for 10 yuan for 30 stems, the prices may be different depending on the quality, you can ask for prices.

Not just red roses, but also various colors - yellow, purple, white, pink, wrapped in (niu pi zhi – Kraft Paper).

Here you can buy cut flowers, dried flowers, (yong sheng hua – Preserved Flower), and potted plants. The second floor is basically for (duo rou zhili planted – Succulents), if you like succulents, you can go upstairs to see them, and there should be many kinds, and the prices are also cheap.

That day I really wanted to buy a bouquet of flowers, but I was flying to Chiang Mai the next day, so it would be a waste to buy it back, so I didn't buy any. If Kunming is the last stop on my itinerary, I definitely want to buy some to take home – flowers can be taken on flights if they're in small quantities, so you can buy some flowers to take home the day before you leave Kunming.

Dounan Flower Market Practical Information

Location: Subway Line 2 Dounan Station

About an hour's drive from the city center, about a fifteen minute walk from the subway station.

Best Visiting Time: After 8 pm

The only downside is that I originally thought there should be the fragrance of flowers in the flower market, but I was constantly exposed to smoke, and the flower market is not well ventilated, so it's not comfortable to browse inside.

In addition to that, Dounan Flower Market Trading Center also has a flower auction hall, with over a hundred seats inside, and the display screen in front shows the type, grade, and quantity of the flowers being auctioned, as well as the purchasing buyers and prices. Besides the live auction, there's also remote auction.

All photos are original and copyright infringement will be prosecuted.

I'm 'Walking Cat Mushroom' – a 90s girl who often travels alone, and I sign contracts with multiple platforms as a travel influencer. I continue to produce original content and share the scenery and experiences along the way. If you like it, please follow and like!

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