In Yiwu's bustling International Trade Market, visitors are greeted with a vibrant array of artificial blooms. From tulips to roses, the shops overflow with colorful pots of meticulously crafted faux flowers and plants, attracting buyers from around the globe.

Recent advancements in artificial flower craftsmanship have made them almost indistinguishable from real flowers. Compared to fresh blooms, artificial ones offer greater durability and value for money, driving their popularity worldwide.

Yiwu specializes in exporting these products, with 80 percent of its sales catering to markets in Europe, America, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. In district one of the trade market, over 1,000 businesses are thriving, with 70 percent focusing on selling finished artificial flowers, covering a wide range of varieties, from Christmas decorations to wedding flowers.

Yiwu's prowess in this industry has attracted attention from exhibition organizers. The National Wedding Props, Festive Supplies, Artificial Flowers and Commercial Display (Yiwu) Fair is a testament to this.

Held successfully three times in Yiwu, the 2024 fair has witnessed significant growth, spanning an area 20,000 square meters larger than before, with seven exhibition halls. Over the course of three days, it attracted over 76,800 people, including 1,587 foreign buyers, with intended transactions totaling 19.2 billion yuan ($2.67 billion) and on-site transactions reaching 8.1 billion yuan.

An Indian merchant squats on the ground with an exhibitor to inspect his purchased goods. [Photo/ywcity.cn]

A Middle East merchant selects artificial green plants at the Yiwu International Trade Market. [Photo/ywcity.cn]