The Gangkou Spring Festival Flower Fair opened at Xijiulong Flower Market as scheduled on the morning of January 19, and many citizens came to purchase flowers for the coming Chinese New Year.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors decreased slightly on the opening day compared with previous years, and only one third of the registered flower growers had started business.

"The venue was requisitioned as a nucleic acid sampling site. As soon as the sampling completed last night, we immediately began to set up the flower fair overnight," said Liao Xiquan, person in charge of the fair.

"We have set up 28 booths this year, and 58 flower growers have signed up for the event," said Liao. "There are about 30 varieties of Spring Festival flowers available this year."