Increasingly affluent, Chinese citizens are spending tens of thousands yuan buying orchids for decoration and enjoyment. Records show that China has a history of more than 1,800 years of planting orchids.
At the ongoing national orchid fair in this capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, local citizens rushed to pay high prices for some rare species of orchids.
Statistics show that orchid growing has become one of the pillar industries of the province.Last year,the annual sales of orchids in Pengzhou City reached 50 million yuan-worth.
Experts say that the thriving market for orchids should be attributed to China's soaring economy, which has swelled Chinese people's pockets and enhanced their purchasing power.
(eastday.com March 5, 2002)
