On the morning of September 19th, the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau unveiled the flower arrangement plan for Tiananmen Square and Chang An Avenue during the 2023 National Day, with the theme "have a bumper harvest" making its debut in a giant flower basket. The floral arrangements began installation on the night of September 15th and are expected to be completed around September 25th, bringing festive cheer to the citizens.

18-meter-tall flower basket filled with flowers and grains

The central themed flowerbed at Tiananmen Square, under the theme "Blessings to the Motherland," features a joyful flower basket. The basket is filled with flowers and the "five grains" representing a bountiful harvest (rice, wheat, millet, corn, and soybeans), symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The bottom of the flowerbed has a diameter of 45 meters, adorned with peony patterns symbolizing prosperity. The flower basket stands at a height of 18 meters, with a basket body height of 16 meters and a basket diameter of 12 meters. On the south side of the basket is inscribed "Blessings to the Motherland, 1949-2023," while the north side reads "Celebrating National Day, 1949-2023." This marks the first time the theme of abundant harvest with the representation of the "five grains" has been applied to a giant flower basket. The technical team designed and modeled each grain based on real grains, adjusting and enlarging them through 3D printing. Each grain underwent flame-retardant treatment, fine polishing, coloring, and was then assembled into small branches, ultimately forming complete ear spikes. Along the green belts on both sides of Tiananmen Square, the flower arrangement continues in a pattern symbolizing good fortune, with a total floral area of 5050 square meters. Additionally, a total of 18 flower balls will be arranged on both sides.

10 themed flower beds to appear on Chang An Avenue

This year, along the Chang An Avenue, there will be a total of 10 themed flower beds from Jianguomen to Fuxingmen. Among them, the 5 sets of flower beds on the eastern side of Chang An Avenue revolve around China's modernization, depicting the grand blueprint of comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the five key features of Chinese modernization. On the western side of Chang An Avenue, the other 5 sets of flower beds primarily focus on the people's aspirations for a better life, showcasing the delightful scenes of the people continually enhancing their sense of gain and happiness.

10 sets of flower bed renderings

1. At the northwest corner of Jianguomen, the "Unite as One" themed flower bed, standing at a height of 8 meters, portrays scenes of people yearning for a better life. It symbolizes the whole nation united and forging ahead in the modernization endeavors, reflecting the road of modernization in which a large population collectively participates.

2. At the northeast corner of Dongdan, the "Enlightened Civilization" themed flower bed, also standing at a height of 8 meters, features national treasures like the He Zun（ritual wine vessel）, the phrase "Reside in China," and the China National Archives of Pulications and Culture. It signifies that Chinese modernization, enriched by the essence of Chinese civilization, carries forward the heritage of Chinese civilization from ancient times to the present, heading toward a broader future.

3. The "Common Prosperity" themed flower bed at the southeast corner of Dongdan, reaching a height of 9.5 meters, portrays scenes of prosperous integration of urban and rural areas. It paints a beautiful vision of common prosperity for all in the Chinese modernization.

4. At the northwest corner of Dongdan, the "Harmonious Coexistence" themed flower bed stands at a height of 8.5 meters. It highlights the "3-North Shelter Forest Program", complemented by typical species like wild horses (Northwest), elk (North China), cranes (Northeast), and poplar trees. This showcases exemplary ecological governance and symbolizes steadfastly following the path of Chinese modernization, where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.

5. At the southwest corner of Dongdan, the "Peaceful Development" themed flower bed, standing at a height of 8 meters, features scenes with white doves, sailboats, and camels. It symbolizes China's path of peaceful development in the journey of Chinese modernization, showcasing a beautiful future of cooperation and mutual benefit.

6. At the northeast corner of Xidan, the "National Fitness" themed flower bed stands tall at 8.5 meters. Depicting a colorful theme of nationwide fitness, scenes of various sports like basketball, badminton, running, and skiing are portrayed, symbolizing the shared pursuit of a better life through national fitness.

7. At the southeast corner of Xidan, the "Path to Happiness" themed flower bed stands at a towering height of 9 meters. Showcasing scenes with the CR Express (CHINA RAILWAY Express), cargo ships, and dolphins, it signifies the collective effort to broaden and extend the "Belt and Road," a path that brings happiness and benefits to the world.

8. At the northwest corner of Xidan, the "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon" themed flower bed stands at a height of 8 meters. It captures the heartwarming image of a family reuniting during the Mid-Autumn Festival, reflecting the joyful lives of the people under the full moon and blooming flowers.

9. At the southwest corner of Xidan, the "Happy Lives" themed flower bed stands at a height of 8.5 meters. It portrays the happy lives of the people in Beijing's traditional alleys, featuring lively scenes of kite-flying youngsters, persimmon trees, flower stands, central-axis landscapes, and more. This showcases a new vision of the people's content and joyful lives.

10. At the northeast corner of Fuxingmen, the "Building Future Dreams" themed flower bed stands tall at 8.5 meters. Featuring Taikonaut (Chinese astronauts) and CSS (China Space Station), it symbolizes the vigorous development of space powerhouse . It supports Chinese dream, aiding in the early realization of the Chinese Dream, promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and composing a more brilliant chapter in the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the new era.

Translator: WANG Luchun

Reviewer: LI Xiaochun