Located in the Chenggong district of Kunming, Dounan Flower Market is the largest flower wholesale market in China. Due to the unique weather condition, which feels like spring all year round, the flowers have a natural and comfortable growing environment throughout the year. Therefore, students who learn Chinese in China at Keats get a fabulous chance to have a wonderful outdoor lesson – visiting the Dounan Flower Market.
Last Thursday and Friday, some teachers took their students to visit the Dounan Flower Market, by the newly built subway. Sitting in the clean and convenient carriage, Keats teachers and students liked the new way of transportation, fast and comfortable.
Before entering the gate of the flower market, students can easily smell the fragrance of the flowers. They can’t wait to see what flowers were there, so they quickened their steps. They were shocked by what they saw in front of them. About four to five hundreds of flower stores and vendors came into view. Now they fully understood why Dounan Flower Market is the largest flower market of China. Colorful and various kinds, the roses attracted the attention of teachers and students.
The teachers and the students were very excited, taking pictures while picking their favorite flowers. The owners of the stores were zealous in introducing their flowers, including the names and their meanings. This was also a fantastic time for students to practice what they have learned in classroom. When the students asked about the price of each type of flower, they were so surprised to learn that it was so cheap to buy flowers here in Kunming while the flowers were so beautiful. Each student picked at least 4 kind of flowers and bought a compatible vase. One Korean student told us that she would divide her flowers into two groups, one placed in her room and one in her classroom. One American student said “I am so happy to visit the market with my teacher today. We have already prepared all possible topics before we came, such as the colors and bargaining. I did bargain with the seller and he offered me a discount because of my perfect Chinese. Now I am more and more confident with my Chinese.”
After coming back to Keats, some students who did not visit the market showed great interest and set up an appointment with their teachers to visit the flower market.
If you ever visit Kunming, don’t forget to visit Dounan Flower Market because there must be something that surprises you.