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Different Attitudes Towards Valentine's Day
Roses and chocolates may have been the best selling gifts Wednesday as many people chose these to express their love for their beloved.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport officials said they have flown nearly 30 tons of flowers since February 9. Roses accounted for a large proportion, with the other popular varieties being carnations and lilies. A new type of rose, named the " diamond rose" was also imported into southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from the Republic of Korea.
To grab the golden chance, the local post offices also started a service of sending roses for residents to their beloved in and outside the city. Restaurants are decorated with candles, delicately-designed chocolates and delicious cookies to welcome pairs spending their day in a romantic atmosphere.
Roses in Beijing are sold at 10 to 20 yuan (about 1.2 to 2.4 U. S. dollars) each today, up from three yuan on usual days. A special type of rose with an unusual color is even sold at 150 yuan each on this special occasion.
Beichen Plaza in Beijing sold out chocolates worth 100,000 yuan and roses worth at least 20,000 yuan today.
Valentine's Day, a day for lovers named after a romantic story in the West, has become more and more popular among the Chinese, especially those below the age of 35.
Li Yong, a computer engineer in Beijing, gave his wife nine roses as a present today, wishing the two could be together forever.
He said," Living in an increasingly open society, it is time for us to change our outdated attitudes. I think we ought to declare our love in a more open and direct way."
While some disagree with the idea, seeming to have no interest in spending a day in such a luxurious way.
Fang Ke, a government official in Beijing, said gifts with too high a price may materialize people's passion. "I would like to spend the day with my girlfriend in our own way," he said.
Valentine's presents that are too expensive also scared some customers away. Wang Yueqin, a woman who has recently lost her job, said," My husband bought several roses today to make me happy. While I think they are a generous gift, I would rather get something more practical." And she is not the only one to hold such an idea.
A teacher in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang province, did not seem to like the Western lovers' day at all. He said so in an on-line chat room: "We Chinese also have our own lovers' day, that is the July 7th in the Chinese lunar calendar. Why do we choose the Western one? We are losing our cultural tradition."
July 7th is set as Chinese lovers day after an ancient Chinese love story. A couple was separated by a goddess, for the wife, once an angel, broke the law in heaven for the sake of love. They were then only allowed to meet on this day." I think the day and the story can remind more young people of what is real love and learn to cherish it," said the teacher.
In the last few years, the Chinese attitudes towards love, sex, marriage have changed a lot. Social phenomena such as adultery, keeping mistresses, and cohabitation have also caught citizens' attention.
Some hotels in Beijing offered room discounts for valentine's day. Customers were only required to show their identity cards when they booked a room, rather than showing their marriage certificates, which made parents and staff working in women's affairs frown.
They said this was improper. Pre-marital sex and adultery are now a threat to family life and social order. Such a practice implies approval.
Ge Chenhong, a sociologist in the People's University of China, said that most Chinese still prefer connotation, and they also tend to be more practical.
"But there is no denying the fact that human beings look forward to true love no matter where and when."
Gifts & ArrangementsThe Horizon Market Survey Company's poll on popular gifts on Valentine's Day showed that dinner and flowers accounted for a large proportion.
Some 254 of 465 residents in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong Province in the survey said they would buy gifts, and 217 of the polled said they would make some special arrangements to celebrate the day.
Seventy-one people said they would buy a bouquet of flowers, 131 said they would dine-out, 62 people would buy chocolates, only 51 of them said they would make phone calls or send e-cards to their beloved or friends.
The average expenditure of those surveyed on the lovers' day is estimated at about 192 yuan (about US$23), only two dollars less than the figure for the Americans on the same day. The figure for men was 263 yuan, twice that for women.
According to the survey, 199 people would send gifts to their partner, and 77 would send gifts to their friends or the ones they care about.
Among the 25 to 29 year age group, 60 percent would buy presents on the day, while the proportion fell to 38.9 percent among people between 35 and 39.
Flowers Makes Scents Flights are busy carrying flowers from Guangzhou to northern cities to add to the romance of Valentine's Day.
A record high 25 tons of flowers winged their way north to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and Xi'an to bring fragrance to the hearts of famished lovers.
This winter, flowers from Guangzhou to the cities around the country have been the main freight item on most airlines in China.
Records from the Transportation Office of South China Airline show that from Jan 22 until Valentine's Day, an average of 20 tons of flowers were transported by major Chinese airlines every day.
For South China Airline, the freight volume in flowers over this period was 30 per cent higher than in the same period last year.
The flowers mainly come from the flower bases in the Pearl River Delta. Attracted by the convenient and busy flight network out of Guangzhou, flower dealers from other provinces, such as Southeast China's Yunnan Province, prefer Guangzhou as a distribution centre for flowers for the entire country.
Since air freight prices are not affected by the seasonal rise in transportation costs, air cargo is considered the best route by flower farmers.
At present, the air expenses from Guangzhou to the hottest destinations such as Beijing and Chengdu is around 5 yuan (60 US 60 cents) and 4.5 yuan (54 US cents) per kilogram.
The heavy demand for flowers from Guangdong Province is predicted to continue until May when the flowers in the North begin to blossom.
In recent years, flowers to send as gifts or to decorate homes and hotels have become trendy in cities thanks to the increasing supply and lower prices.
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