People began arriving at 6:30 p.m. and waited outside a barrier, with many wearing face masks to protect against Covid.
However, with the Covid pandemic under control, this year people are free to enter without having to show vaccination proof and or their temperature checked unlike last year.
Soon after a 20-minute opening ceremony, people start flooding the flower street to take photos.
It will be open until next Thursday, the fifth day of the new year.
At the entrance to the street is a five-meter replica of a cat sitting upright with her kittens to signify the Year of the Cat.
People take photos at a tableau featuring the animal replicas of the past 20 years since it first began in 2004.
A 30-meter-long wooden bridge over a flower bed.
Security guards limit the number of people climbing it at a time.
A little girl sits on her father’s shoulder to catch sight of the flowers. He said: “Despite the crowd, we were happy to show up at the flower street on the opening day."
The crowds at 9 p.m.
Police officers, guards and other security personnel will keep watch to ensure safety and keep pickpockets at bay.
