China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Holiday basket
National Day mainstay open at Tian’anmen
A 17-meter-high flower basket in Tian’anmen Square opened to the public on Monday morning as part of the upcoming National Day celebration.
The huge, fancy flower basket is attracting plenty of tourists, both from China and other countries.
The giant basket, a National Day decoration since 2011, is themed “Blessings to China” this year, and is adorned with artificial fruit for the first time.
In addition to artificial peonies, magnolias and Chinese roses, the main arrangement features pomegranates, persimmons and apples. The biggest pomegranate has a diameter of 1.5 meters.
“Today is your birthday, my great country. This morning I released doves for you,” a visitor surnamed Yang, from Hubei province, sang as he conveyed his best wishes to China and took selfies with a friend in front of the huge basket.
Pan Shuhua, a visitor from Yantai, Shandong province, said: “The flower arrangement is amazing. I was born in the 1950s and grew up with the nation. I am happy that we now live a good life, and I hope that the country can be stronger in the future.”
Two 13-metric-ton cranes set the disc of artificial flowers and fruits on the lantern-shaped flower container, and hundreds of workers placed tens of thousands of potted chrysanthemums and poinsettias around the main basket early on Monday, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
Fourteen additional floral terraces along Chang’an Avenue are among the National Day decorations.
“The flower terraces are designed with different themes. The Great Wall and the Yongding River are used as main design elements to show the grand landscape and history of China,” said Lan Hailang, director of Beijing Institute of Landscape and Traditional Architectural Design and Research Co.
Two varieties of colorchanging chrysanthemums adorn the themed floral terraces in the Dongdan area. The blossoms can change from light yellow to deeper yellow over time.
I was born in the 1950s and grew up with the nation. I am happy that we now live a good life.” Pan Shuhua, a visitor from Yantai, Shandong province