Spring Festival is around the corner. There is a tradition in Guangdong that people would like to visit flower fairs and buy flowers representing auspicious meanings to decorate their homes. However, due to the strict pandemic prevention and control measures, some big events have been officially canceled.

Spring Festival Flower Market in Guangzhou, 2020. (Photo:Wu Ming)

Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Qingyuan, Yingde, Fogang, Sihui, Taishan and Enping announced this week that their respective municipal-level Spring Festival flower markets for 2021 will be canceled, while Duanzhou and Gaoyao Districts of Zhaoqing, Chancheng District of Foshan also issued similar notices.

Citizens in Shenzhen can buy flowers from individual merchants or temporary flower stalls on every street of the city. People can still buy flowers through online platforms or offline flower stores.

Hong Kong is bracing for a bleak New Year, with the annual countdown fireworks display over Victoria Harbour and the iconic parade in February both cancelled due to a new wave of coronavirus infections.

At the press conference of COVID-19 prevention and control held on Friday (January 8th), Huang Fei, Deputy Director General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, said that it is recommended not to leave Guangdong, not to head to high-risk areas, and not to travel overseas if it is not necessary. In addition, it is recommended to minimize gathering activities such as door-to-door visits, and avoid visiting crowded places.