Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, is known as the "city of flowers".

Located in a subtropical zone, the city has long summers and warm winters, with evergreen lush trees and grass, and flowers in all seasons.

The Guangzhou people have a long history of planting flowers, appreciating flowers and sending flowers as gifts.

One particular occasion falls every year during the Spring Festival at the city's famous spring-greeting flower markets.

While people in North China stay inside with their families, Guangzhou's streets are packed with crowds of people and bundles of flowers.

People flock to the flower markets with their families or friends, to admire and buy flowers. The markets become a paradise for everybody, from little children to the elderly.

The act of appreciating the flowers together becomes a symbol of family reunions and serves to inspire both hope and commitment for their wellbeing in the new year.

Moving along with the crowds in the streets, the endless array of beautiful flowers and the boisterous carols of the Chinese New Year create a cheerful atmosphere.

During the New Year, a parade in the flower street is organized, which becomes a carnival for all the local residents.

"Last year, I went to a nearby flower market with my family after the Spring Festival Eve dinner and bought bunches of cockscomb flowers," said Feng Qiuping, a retired woman who has been living in Guangzhou for more than 30 years.

"The fire red color matched the jubilation of Spring Festival," she added.

When the city slogan - "Celebrate Spring Festival in Guangzhou, Enjoy Beautiful Blossoms in Flower City" - was proposed in 2013, the activities celebrating Spring Festival in Guangzhou were extended to a series of events lasting from the first day of Spring Festival to the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Guangzhou has been known as the "city of flowers" since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) because there were regular jasmine flower markets set at all the gates of the city during daytime.

Nowadays, hundreds of flowers species are planted for residents and visitors. A total of 140 flower-themed landscapes were established in the city recently.

Seasonal flowers such as redbud, ceiba, lotus, crape myrtle and tabebuia chrysantha bloom one after another. The official city flower, red kapok, blossoms in March.

Besides the construction of flower landscapes, the city has committed itself to planting more trees and maintaining every piece of green.

By the end of 2016, the forest coverage in Guangzhou had reached 42.31 percent, and the green land coverage of the city had reached 36.7 percent, making it a model city for afforestation in China.

"Guangzhou has been undertaking tremendous changes since I moved here in 1980s," said Feng. "The streets are cleaner, the water clearer and the sky is crystal blue. I recommend more people to come here, live here and find a beautiful life for themselves."