The annual flower and nursery stock fair kicked off on Oct 17, in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province.

The flower and nursery stock fair of Tai'an opens on Oct 17. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

It is the 12th event of this kind, with the aim of building the fair into a comprehensive platform for information communication and exchange, showcasing new products, popularizing new techniques and promoting e-commerce.

Some 1,300 national retailers and suppliers of flowers and nursery stock flocked to the Taishan district of Tai'an for the event.

The number of exhibitors has hit a record high at this year's fair. Along with the designated 350 exhibition booths and 930 trade booths, 900 outdoor booths were also added to meet the surging market demand.

Potential buyers pack the venues of the fair. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

There were five different exhibition sections, including bonsai displays, flower displays and a trading area.

The e-commerce platform of the flower and nursery stock is the highlight of the fair. Buyers can skim through the webpages of products and order online, and suppliers can ship their products to anywhere in China.

Visitors show their interest in the bonsai display section. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Yongjun, a flower supplier from Northeast China's Liaoning province, praised the annual fair. He has been a regular visitor for several years, and has successfully found clients across the country. He has also established long-term business relationships with Tai'an clients.

The host of the fair, Taishan district, is an important production base of plants in East China, and a crucial transfer station for plants being transported between North and South China.

It has also developed its flower industry as a major part of local agriculture, through establishing ornamental plant production bases, and developing new products with local features, including Mount Tai pines and Mount Tai bonsais.

During 2016, Taishan district has earned 1.59 billion yuan ($235.98 million) in nursery stock output.