明清時期，花卉賞玩是江浙文人重要的娛興活動之一。當時文人常在宅院中栽種花卉，隨著四季花卉（如牡丹、芍藥、山茶花、菊花等）綻放，文人常彼此互邀，至各家的庭園中觀賞，並以酒食招待。而逢菊花綻放時，茶樓與妓院也購置好的品種擺設，用以招徠客人前來觀賞並消費。另外，清代蘇州、上海等地，還出現具有比賽性質的花會，如蘭花會、菊花會，往往吸引許多人士參加，前往觀賞的民眾也不在少數。另一方面，在花卉綻放時，文人或呼朋引伴，或各自前往，到郊外賞花，成為當地重要的休閒活動之一。如元月至二月賞梅花，三月賞桃花和菜花，夏天賞荷花，秋天賞菊花等。這一郊外賞花的活動，為從事交通運輸的船家、轎夫，增添無數的商機與收入。同樣地，飲食店與各攤販也大發利市。

During the Ming-Qing dynasty, flower appreciation and enjoyment was one of the most important entertaining activities for the literati in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. Literati often planted flowers in their courtyards. As the flowers bloomed during the four seasons (like peony, Chinese herbaceous peony, camellia, chrysanthemum, etc.), they regularly invited others to their homes to enjoy and admire each other’s gardens. The guests were also served food and wine at the same time. When chrysanthemums were blooming, teahouse and brothels would buy and display supreme varieties to attract customers to enjoy and purchase. Moreover, during the Qing dynasty, there were blossom exhibitions with competitive themes in the Suzhou and Shanghai, such as orchid or chrysanthemum exhibition. These events attracted many competitors and as well as countless spectators. On the other hand, when flowers were at full bloom, literati would visit the countryside with friends or on an individual basis and it became one of the most important leisure activities. For example, in January and February (Chinese calendar), it was the season for plum blossom, then peach and rape blossom in March, lotus in the summer, and chrysanthemum in autumn. This flower enjoyment activity brought countless financial opportunities for boatmen and sedan chair bearers in the transportation industry, and restaurants and street venders also benefited tremendously at the same time.