As the Qixi Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day, approaches, florists are preparing their bouquet designs and the love-struck are searching for that perfect gift to demonstrate their affection. Deng Zhangyu looks at some of the ways to show your care.

Roses are the symbol of romance in Western culture while in traditional Chinese literature, lotus and gourds are the token of love. In The Book of Songs, one of the literary classics of ancient China, there are many poems eulogizing the plants.

Florist Li Peiqi of Beijing-based brand Misheng has drawn inspiration from the ancient book for her latest works for the Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day, which falls on Aug 2 this year.

"In Chinese ancient poems, seedpods of the lotus and gourds were mentioned frequently in summer as things to present poets' affection for their lovers," says Li, who chose the two as the centerpiece in her flower design.

Another Beijing-based floral brand, Roseonly, only allows its customers to order flowers for one person in their lifetime. Once a buyer selects a name to whom the flower gift is sent, the name is not allowed to change.

Brand founder Pu Yi says what his customers send is more than roses - they send a promise to their lovers that they will never change their mind.

Qixi Festival grew from a traditional Chinese legend that tells the story of the cowherd and the weaver girl, who can only meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Other flower shops have also produced special campaigns to celebrate the special day.

Contact the writer at dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn

Many florists are expecting booming business on Chinese Valentine's Day. Liu Qinli / For China Daily

Shanghai-based flower brand the Beast (Tel: 186-1609-8753) offers a series titled "Promises Don't Come Easy" to celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day.

Seedpods of lotus and gourds are used by florists at Misheng Flower (Tel: 400-605-2005) in Beijing. Photos Provided to China Daily

One can only order flowers from Beijing's Roseonly (Tel: 010-6415-1517) for one person in a lifetime.

(China Daily USA 07/28/2014 page9)