Ahead of the National Day holiday, which begins on October 1, Beijing has installed 10 themed floral displays along a roughly 6-km stretch of Chang'an Avenue, the city's main east-west thoroughfare. The displays, designed to appeal to people of all ages, feature themes ranging from new quality productive forces and harmony between people and nature, to urban renewal and the beautiful countryside. This year's installations have captured young visitors' attention, sparking lively discussion on social media.
The floral displays tell stories of China's revolutionary history, showcase its technological progress and aspirations for the future, and offer glimpses into the everyday lives of its people. One of the displays, themed "Carrying Forward the Long March Spirit," commemorates the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, an epic military trek from 1934 to 1936. The display aims to inspire people to tackle difficulties head-on, just like the Red Army soldiers who braved raging rivers, snow-covered mountains, and treacherous grasslands.
The displays feature a range of creative and intricate designs, including a grinning "boy" in sleek VR goggles and a running humanoid robot with a green-grass body and metallic "joints." A 3.5-meter-tall kitten, outside Chang'an Avenue, stands out for its lifelike appearance, created using buffalo grass to recreate its long, fluffy fur. These installations have become popular photo spots, with visitors sharing photos and guides to their locations on social media.
According to Lan Hailang, chief designer of this year's National Day floral displays, the goal is to engage younger generations. The displays have evolved significantly over the years, from simple flower arrangements to large-scale three-dimensional installations. The varieties of plants used have grown tremendously, and technologies such as 3D modeling and simulation have made it possible to achieve greater precision and realism.
The floral displays also showcase China's technological achievements, including the Tiangong space station, a reusable rocket, a sprinting humanoid robot, and a CR450 high-speed train. One display features a garland-wearing girl playing the violin, surrounded by black storks, red-crowned cranes, and milu deer, creating a vivid scene of harmony between people and nature. The hem of the girl's floor-length gown is made up of brightly colored flowers, with a musical staff woven into the display spelling out the beloved melody of "My Motherland and I."
For residents like Hou Yueru, the displays depict scenes that feel close to home, from a kitten nestled in a rural setting to community gardens and digital cultural and tourism experiences. The displays not only reflect the country's development and people's lives but also offer a glimpse into its future aspirations. The 18-meter-tall flower basket at Tian'anmen Square contains 15 types of plant-assembled "flowers" and five types of "fruit," symbolizing hopes for abundant blossoms and fruitful results during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
As the country begins the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the floral displays serve as a symbol of its determination to pursue high-quality development through hard work. The displays will remain a prominent feature of National Day celebrations along Tian'anmen Square and Chang'an Avenue, a tradition that has lasted more than four decades.
Key points
- The National Day floral displays in Beijing showcase the country's history, technological progress, and aspirations for the future.
- This year's installations have captured young visitors' attention, sparking lively discussion on social media.
- The displays feature a range of creative and intricate designs, including a grinning "boy" in sleek VR goggles and a running humanoid robot with a green-grass body and metallic "joints."
