Floral displays blossom ahead of National Day

Workers in Beijing have begun installing a giant flower basket and extensive floral decorations in Tian'anmen Square and along Chang'an Avenue as the capital prepares to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1.

The giant centerpiece, themed Blessing the Motherland, will be placed in the middle of Tian'anmen Square. It features a 16-meter-high basket topped with flowers symbolizing peace and prosperity.

For the first time, the city flower — the Chinese rose — will serve as the main flower of the floral arrangement, while a dynamic animal sculpture — a "glowing "pigeon — has been introduced as a new highlight, said Song Xuemin, a junior official at the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau.

The surrounding green spaces cover 9,600 square meters, with 18 large flower balls on either side, according to the bureau. Along Chang'an Avenue, more than 7,000 square meters of ground-planted flowers are being laid out, continuing the commemorative style used for the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

In addition, 10 groups of three-dimensional flower beds representing "national prosperity, national rejuvenation and people's happiness" will be set up along Chang'an Avenue. The installations aim to showcase achievements obtained during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and to look forward to a bright future.

Meanwhile, 67 new types of plants — 17 domestic and 50 newly imported — are being used for the first time, including chrysanthemums and lilies, Song said. The fresh mix of plants reflects both breeding innovation and a push to use more native flora.

The capital is also encouraging public participation. High-quality flowers cultivated by residents will be selected and displayed along Chang'an Avenue, echoing the slogan "Everyone is taking action in the Garden City."

"I feel proud to see the country so strong," said Li Meng, a 31-year-old visitor from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. "The basket reminds me to cherish our happy life."

Li said she had come across the floral displays a day before she had to leave Beijing to head back home.

"It's my first time seeing how these floral arrangements are put together," she said. "Seeing it with my own eyes is far better than simply hearing about it."

Since 1984, Tian'anmen Square has hosted large-scale flower displays to mark National Day, with their size and symbolism evolving over the years. This year's installations extend beyond the square and avenue and include other areas in the city, such as Jianguomen, to create a festive atmosphere.