Li Zhijun, an auctioneer at KIFA, said the center handled an average daily supply of 6 million stems during the week leading up to the festival, a more than 21 percent bump over the normal daily average. In total, more than 42 million stems of fresh-cut flowers were shipped from the center to markets in China and abroad.

Export orders have also surged recently, particularly for flowers associated with romance, with orders nearly doubling, according to Tian Xiangfeng, general manager of Yunnan Shenghang International Trade.

"Many overseas Chinese maintain the tradition of giving flowers to their partners on Qixi, while a growing number of foreign nationals are also embracing the festival and buying bouquets for their Chinese partners," Tian said.