Flower power

The soft spot ancient Chinese women had for flowers has been widely celebrated through classic art like the well-preserved Tang Dynasty (618-907) painting by Zhou Fang, Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers.

This fondness, having survived the ages and also transcended class, is currently regaining momentum in the small fishing village of Xunpu, which is tucked away in Quanzhou, Fujian province, where women wearing floral headdresses can be seen coming and going in the narrow alleys.

These days, residents are either to be found shucking oysters, or busily arranging floral headdress for the crowds of visitors.

"It has long been a part of our tradition used to express our love for life and wishes for happiness," says Huang Liyong, who opened a studio to provide headdress-making, makeup and photography services, aiming to repopularize the floral art for over a decade.

As a child, her grandmother often made a point of placing one on her head before she went out, saying that good fortune would follow her, according to Huang, who's now in her 30s.