Swinging arms therapy was a popular exercise that originated in the 1960s. Rather like drinking red mushroom tea and injecting chicken's blood, it was widely popular. But these fads, because they lacked any scientific basis, were soon forgotten.

Similarly, growing kafir lilies also became a trend, in this case because of the financial benefits. More and more Changchun residents became involved in the lucrative business.

A feature film, "Kafir Lily", was made by the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio. From 1981 onwards, the kafir lily's price continued to rise. At its height, the price reached 200,000 yuan for a single stem. Changchun even had three markets, devoted to the kafir lily.

Yu Weifan, a worker at an automobile factory, still remembers those times.

Tempted by the legendary tales of profits, Yu Weifan joined the ranks of kafir lily growers.

Like many other growers, Yu Weifan moved out from the dormitory at his factory, and went to live in a bungalow in the suburbs.

Liberation Avenue is the main road running through Changchun. The street is lined with a number of old buildings. 20 years ago, kafir lilies with their wide leaves were to be seen under all the eaves and on all the windowsills here. In 1984, the Changchun Municipal People's Congress even passed a decision, making the kafir lily the city's official flower.

In 1983, Jilin Television broadcast a report about a campaign to Build Changchun into a Kafir Lily Garden: "The municipal and provincial governments," the report said, "attach great importance to the research and development of the kafir lily, and have organized a series of special kafir lily seminars. Flower experts gather regularly to conduct research on the cultivation and development of the kafir lily. Recently, with the support of the provincial and municipal urban construction departments, the People's Government of Changchun's Kuancheng District has built a kafir lily garden, funded by mass donations."

At the time, Chine was increasing the speed of its opening. Having established several special economic zones, the country opened up 14 coastal cities. The reform and opening launched a second tide of development, particularly in the southern cities, which were driving the wheels of China's economy.

In 1984, the government introduced a series of new economic policies. These included regulations on the planned and unplanned double-track pricing system. Development of the unplanned economy was encouraged and this created an upsurge in company launches. 1984 became known as "the first year of China's modern companies".