Tuesday is Valentine’s Day. The saint’s day, long beloved of lovers in the West, is now celebrated in China too. Lovers want to make this day a memorable one for their loved ones and business people swarm in to take their share from the lovers’ market. Our correspondent, Chen Simeng, reports from Shanghai. 
Reporter:
Giving roses is the most traditional way to express your love. After the Spring Festival, prices for most kinds of flowers decreased, but not for roses.
For Valentine’s Day lovers will have to pay at least ten yuan, or about 1.2 US dollars for one rose, while on normal days, one and a half yuan is enough.
Florists will reap their biggest bonanza for the year.
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“The biggest order I have received is for a bunch of 999 black roses, priced at 35,000 yuan.”
Florists say Valentine’s Day sales can equal four months worth of their sales ordinary days.
However, it seems that the special day is no longer just the florists, hotels, cinemas or restaurants day to make money.
Popular Bookmall, one of China’s book store chains is promoting a special play for the lovers amongst their readers. Produced by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, the play, called The Lover, has been adapted from a book popular on the internet.
Shen Kai, the general manager of Popular Bookmall, says his book store is looking to find new ways to promote the appreciation of literature. Transforming a book into a play and then presenting it on Valentine’s Day is their first experiment and it has been well received so far.
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“We have got very good feedback. Many people are very interested in the play after they have read the book. Now most tickets have been sold out.”
Automakers also will not rest on the Lover’s day. The Anhui-based Chery Automobile is set to promote its new car, Chery A520 nationwide on the day.
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“In Chinese net language, 520 sounds similar to “I love you”. So we would like to take advantage of the lover’s day to promote our new car by staging a small-scale car show. We will provide free wedding cars for newly-weds.”
Since the western festival was introduced into China, the lovers market has gradually taken shape.
Zhang Jun, an economist with Shanghai’s Fudan University, says this market will stimulate the development of the service industry as a whole.
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“The direct influence of the lovers’ market in Shanghai is to promote the city’s service industry. And it will lead the service industry to focus more on young consumers.”
Professor Zhang says the most dynamic part of the economy of a metropolis is related to its young consumers.
However, this scholar also warns service suppliers that in the face of a growing new demand in the market, it is crucial to provide a satisfactory service, or not only they will lose market share themselves, but the entire market will also be damaged.
Chen Simeng, CRI News, Shanghai
