The flower markets in Dounan of Kunming, Yunnan province, have seen single-day transaction volumes nearing 9 million stems in the lead-up to May 20, a date that sounds like "I love you" when spoken in Mandarin.

Li Zhijun, an auctioneer at the Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center in Dounan, said that the center hit its peak transaction volume on Monday, reaching nearly 7.5 million stems.

Li said that this year's trending flower colors are hues of red, pink, and purple. Among the pink rose varieties, "Fairy's Kiss" fetched the highest price at 18 yuan ($2.64) per stem.

Meanwhile, during the peak stocking period from May 13 to 16, the trading center recorded an average daily transaction volume of about 1.4 million stems.

Li Shenghuan, a vendor at the Dounan Flower Market, said that her customers range from the elderly to children. People buy flowers not only as gifts for partners but also for their mothers, and many young women purchase them to take photos.

Wei Meilin, from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was one of the customers who bought flowers for photos. "I spent just 50 yuan on these flowers," she said. "In Guangxi, they'd cost two to three hundred yuan. The flowers really lift my spirits."

The flowers in Dounan are highly popular domestically and abroad. Recently, the number of buyers and the volume of purchases in the center's export section saw a significant increase, driven by demand from countries and regions including Russia, the Middle East, Kazakhstan, Japan, and South Korea, according to Li Zhijun.