The secret to the lush blooms of the roses on Hangzhou's overpasses lies in Yuhang district, specifically Shuanglian village in Zhongtai subdistrict.

The village is home to the Hangzhou Luqiao Group's rose base, which supplies over 80% of the roses for the city's overpasses.

Spanning around 24 acres, the base houses over 30,000 pots of roses and 200,000 container seedlings, with 15 main varieties used for the overpasses. Wang Jingwen, the manager of the base, notes that currently, varieties such as Ruby Ice, Carte d’Or, West Lake Red, and Deep Red Flower Room are in full bloom. Due to temperature differences, the base’s flowers bloom about a week later than those on the overpasses.

The base is divided into three areas: cutting seedlings, container seedlings, and finished plants. Growing a rose suitable for the overpasses takes three years, from cutting to potting, shaping, and planting in flower boxes. Cutting seedlings are nurtured in greenhouses with controlled temperature and humidity. There are six greenhouses at the base, each housing 20,000 cuttings.

After a year in the greenhouse, the seedlings are moved to containers. Wang explains that direct potting in large containers can be detrimental as the roots can drown in rainwater, so containers are essential. After another year, the seedlings are transplanted into larger pots to become finished plants. These finished plants are then sent to the overpasses, where they bloom within the same year.

In summer, watering and pest control are crucial. Three young caretakers at the base are busy daily, while a professional maintenance team takes over the care of the roses on the overpasses. This team waters, checks soil, and applies treatments.

The base cultivates over 30 varieties of roses, including some imported from France, Germany, and Japan. Wang mentions that they select and develop varieties best suited for overpass planting. New varieties like West Lake Red and Deep Red Flower Room are known for their abundant blooms and strong resistance, ensuring the overpasses remain vibrant year-round.