ON the eve of the Chinese Spring Festival people in town are busy preparing everything they believe is necessary to celebrate the Year of the Rooster.

    Beside decorating the house and preparing food, residents in southern China prefer to visit local flower markets to expel bad luck and buy some flowers that are believed to bring fortune to the owners.

    This year, a total of 77 flower markets in Shenzhen are ready to welcome customers. Flowers such as orchids, camellias, plum blossoms, kumquat trees and other decorations can be found at the markets.

    Popular places to buy flowers include Dutch Flower Town in Nanshan, Huanggang Central Cultural Plaza and Futian Flower World.

    (Tan Yifan)