New Year snacks, couplets, and flowers are important cultural elements during the Spring Festival in the tropical island province of Hainan in south China.
In the run-up to Chinese New Year, many shops were busy selling New Year goods, or nianhuo in Chinese, on the streets. Locals typically like to prepare snacks such as dried fish, sesame candies and peanut cakes to treat their guests.
Spring couplets have also been selling well in Hainan ahead of the holiday. For example, handwritten couplets have been hot sellers on Qilou Ancient Street in downtown Haikou. Calligraphers have been writing spring couplets for people every year for decades.
Fresh flowers are another essential element of the Spring Festival. People in Hainan are used to buying lots of colorful flowers to create a festive atmosphere at home. There are many flower markets where people can buy beautiful plants with auspicious meanings.