CHRISTINE HETTIARACHCHI
KUNMING – As I walked through the auction halls of Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Centre (KIFA) which is Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest flower auction facility, serving as a vital hub for global floriculture trade and the bustling alleys of Dounan, I couldn’t help but wonder, where is Sri Lanka in this picture?
With China being one of Sri Lanka’s closest and most consistent development partners, the idea of floriculture collaboration feels both timely and natural.
Sri Lanka’s fertile soil, year-round sunshine and export-quality tropical blooms, particularly orchids, anthuriums and foliage present a compelling opportunity.
Meanwhile, Kunming offers a gateway into the global flower trade through structured auctions, cold-chain logistics and e-commerce platforms.
It is my view that now is the perfect time for Sri Lanka to explore this market, not just as a seller of flowers but as a partner in innovation.
Participation in the Kunming auction system, technical training exchanges, joint floriculture ventures and collaborative flower tourism initiatives could blossom into a vibrant new chapter in bilateral cooperation, nurtured by the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and China.
In a world seeking beauty, sustainability and cross-cultural ties, flowers speak a universal language. And what better way to deepen the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and China than through a partnership that literally blooms?
At the heart of China’s thriving floriculture industry stands the KIFA a bustling, high-tech marketplace that has revolutionized the way flowers are bought and sold across Asia. Located in Yunnan Province’s flower capital, KIFA operates much like a financial stock exchange, but instead of shares, it trades in millions of fresh blooms every day.
With over 900 seats and a sale every 3–4 seconds, this electronic auction system sets the benchmark prices for China’s flower trade and offers unmatched transparency, speed and efficiency. On average, 5–6 million stems pass through the auction daily, spanning over 1,500 floral varieties, including roses, lilies, gerberas and chrysanthemums. The system ensures real-time pricing, quality grading and immediate settlement, attracting growers, wholesalers, exporters and logistics providers from all corners of China and beyond.
Complementing the auction centre is the vibrant Dounan Flower Market, the largest flower trading hub in Asia. By day and night, it buzzes with growers, retailers, tourists and artists.
Visitors are greeted with rivers of colour piles of fresh-cut roses, exotic orchids, decorative foliage and flower-themed culinary products like rose cakes, jasmine teas, soaps and flower beverages.
Handling up to over 10 billion stems annually, Dounan is not only an agricultural marvel but also a cultural landmark, drawing florists, influencers and tourists from across China and the world. It serves as both a supply chain backbone and a unique experiential destination where flower trade meets flower lifestyle.
