Li Meili, the inheritor of Shanghai wool-knitting technique from Hengyuanxiang Group, teaches trainees to prepare the bouquets. (Photo by Gao Erqiang/chinadaily.com.cn)
"The rose stands for friendship, the Chinese rose for perseverance, the lily of the valley for happiness, the hydrangea for unity, the laurel for victory, the sweet osmanthus for harvest, and the olive for peace," explained Gu Honglei, Party secretary of HYX.
Gu added that the bouquet for the Paralympic Games would also feature the calliopsis, which symbolizes freedom and eternal happiness.
According to Li Meili, the inheritor of the Shanghai wool-knitting technique from HYX, the traditional technique has a history of nearly 100 years and was first introduced to China's coastal cities from foreign travelers.
"It takes 20 minutes to knit a rose petal, and different flowers require different techniques. It takes up to 35 hours to complete one bouquet," she said.
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