THE opening weekend of the 2024 Shenzhen Bougainvillea Show brought an influx of visitors to Lianhua Hill Park, the event’s main venue, resulting in significant traffic congestion around the area, Chinese-language media reported yesterday.

Traffic authorities recommend that residents consider using public transportation to avoid gridlock and ensure a smoother flower-viewing experience.

Over the weekend, the daily visitor count at the park exceeded 100,000 people on both days. By 10 a.m. Sunday, crowds were already arriving in large numbers through the park’s south entrance. Due to the high volume of visitors, several surrounding roads experienced heavy traffic.

According to Zhang Hanwen, head of the Futian Traffic Police Brigade’s Central Business District Detachment, additional patrols have been deployed to manage traffic. During the show, the park’s parking lots are closed to private vehicles, and strict enforcement of parking restrictions is in place along surrounding roads, including Hongli Road, Xinzhou Road, Lianhua Road, and Caitian Road.

Shenzhen Metro also reported a surge in passenger numbers, with nearly 100,000 riders passing through the Children’s Palace Station on Lines 3 and 4 on Saturday, the event’s opening day. Station supervisor Zhang Weiyang confirmed that crowd control measures would be implemented based on real-time conditions and encouraged commuters to use nearby stations such as Lianhua Village, Lianhua West, Civic Center, and Lianhua North for easier access to the show.

To reduce congestion, the traffic department has announced plans to increase police presence in the area. Officials recommend that, whenever possible, residents plan their visit on weekdays. Use of public transportation, such as the Metro or buses, is also encouraged to facilitate a hassle-free experience at the flower show.

The show, which runs through Nov. 17, also has two subvenues at the Bougainvillea Valley Park in Bao’an District and Pingshan District Central Park. (Liu Yangyang)