Life of Guangzhou - Lunar New Year--Plant

Panji 盆桔--Mandarin orange

Mandarin oranges (桔) are very popular and welcome in Guangzhou. In Cantonese, the Chinese character 桔 (ji, meaning orange) and has the same pronunciation as 吉 (ji, meaning harvest and good luck). Besides this special meaning, the mandarin orange has a beautiful golden color which adds to the lunar New Year festive atmosphere.

Pan Ji [Foshan Daily]

Daffodils 水仙花

Daffodils are big bold happy flowers and that's why they embody good fortune and prosperity, quite apart from beautifying and bringing pleasant aromas to the house. "Hua Kai Fu Gui" means flower blossom s bringing riches and honor.

Peach blossom
桃花

Peach blossom is always a favourite of Guangzhou citizens. Delicate pink petals, red Lishi (lucky packages) and green lights dangling on branches, create a warm scene in the coldest house. Singles bring peach blossoms home, to be assured of a romance in the following year. No wonder the peach blossom is known as the "Christmas tree for the Chinese," in Guangzhou.

Sugar cane甘蔗

During the Spring Festival, many families place some sugar cane in the home. A whole sugar cane that contains a head and a tail represents a full year.

(Written By Carrot ChanProofread by Kimberly Barteau, David Kellaway and Alan Devey)