Kunming Dounan Flower Market remains bustling throughout the day. The daytime trading hall caters primarily to retail customers, while as one of Yunnan's first provincial-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption centers, the market also allows visitors to purchase and appreciate flowers, as well as experience flower auctions. After 8 PM, it transforms into the main wholesale battlefield, where over 110 types of fresh cut flowers are traded. While roses, lilies, eustomas, and Matthiola are among the most traded varieties, others such as Evolvulus, sunflowers, Tanacetum, bamboo, monstera, and Strelitzia reginae are also widely available.
© Luo (Cathy) Rong | FloralDaily.com
With the rapid growth of Yunnan's flower exports over the past two years, merchants from Russia and the Middle East are frequently seen in the market. According to official statistics, in the first seven months of 2025, Yunnan exported fresh cut flowers worth 6.3 billion RMB, the main export destinations are the Philippines, Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Japan.
© Luo (Cathy) Rong | FloralDaily.com
At the recently concluded 23rd China Kunming International Flower Expo in late September, the Russian Flower Trade Service Alliance was officially established. Over the past year, Russian flower buyers have frequently come to China to purchase various floral products. At this year's Russian International Flower Exhibition in October, more than 30 Chinese companies participated—an increase of over half compared to last year—many of which were from Yunnan.
© Luo (Cathy) Rong | FloralDaily.com
However, alongside the rapid export growth, several challenges remain. These include supply chain instability due to seasonality and fragmented sourcing, inconsistent product specifications and quality due to a lack of standardization, complex customs clearance procedures, and high transaction costs resulting from long logistics chains. These issues require urgent attention and industry-wide solutions.
© Luo (Cathy) Rong | FloralDaily.com
