It didn't take long after he arrived in Guangzhou in July 2014 for Didier Boschung to be impressed by the modernity of the city, its thriving daily life and the friendliness of its people.

"Guangzhou is a vibrant megacity but it also has a green environment and a lower degree of pollution compared to other major cities in China. It is certainly offering a friendly and comfortable atmosphere to live in," Boschung, consul general of Switzerland in Guangzhou, told China Daily.

Located in a subtropical zone with the Tropic of Cancer running through the northeastern part of the city, the Guangdong provincial capital stays warm in winter so that green trees and colorful flowers can been seen all year round.

Historical documents record that people in Guangzhou started to grow and appreciate flowers from the days of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), which earned it the reputation of the "Flower City".

As Spring Festival approaches, flower markets open across the city, a century-long tradition, so that people can buy bouquets and floral decorations to brighten up their homes during the important period of celebration.

A citywide survey last September revealed that Flower City was the most popular nickname for Guangzhou, with 81 percent of all respondents voting for the moniker. Other options included the "Capital of Lingnan Culture", the "Pearl of South China", and "Business Capital of the Millennium".

The results of the survey coincide with the city government's recent strategy to sharpen its brand as Flower City and branch out not just domestically but globally.

"We plan to make Flower City Guangzhou's global image with wide recognition and strong characteristics in three years," said Wen Guohui, mayor of Guangzhou. According to its blueprint, the city will improve flower arrangements and displays in its central park and 11 district-level parks, sometimes collectively referred to as the "Guangzhou Garden".

The area has the most parks, the largest variety of flower species and the biggest blossoming season in China. Recently, government departments completed a project to create "flower corridors" which saw the floral decoration of 353 bridges and flyovers, with an accumulative length of 309 kilometers.

"I always tell friends or relatives to visit Guangzhou.

"Once visitors are here, they are always very surprised to find such a modern, inclusive and exciting city and hospitable people," Boschung said.

(China Daily 01/23/2018 page18)