The Man Who Proposed With 9,999 Roses

In Guangzhou, China, a young man named Xiao Fan decided that a simple diamond ring wasn't going to cut it. He needed something bigger. Something that would make his girlfriend understand exactly how he felt. His solution? A dress made from nearly ten thousand roses.

A Proposal That Went Viral

The year was 2012, and Xiao Fan had been planning for months. He commissioned a custom dress for his girlfriend that would be completely covered in 9,999 fresh red roses. When the big day arrived, he presented her with the extraordinary garment in a public spectacle that quickly spread across Chinese social media.

The dress wasn't just an over-the-top romantic gesture—every detail was intentional, right down to the exact number of flowers.

Why 9,999?

In Chinese culture, numbers carry profound meaning, and few are more auspicious than 9. The number nine (jiǔ, 九) is a homophone for the word meaning "long-lasting" or "forever" (jiǔ, 久). This makes it incredibly popular for:

• Wedding dates and proposals
• Gift-giving (especially monetary gifts)
• Business dealings and contracts
• Phone numbers and license plates

By choosing 9,999 roses, Xiao Fan was essentially saying "forever, forever, forever, forever"—a quadruple promise of eternal love. The repetition of nines amplifies the symbolism exponentially.

The Power of Numbers in Chinese Romance

This obsession with numerical meaning runs deep in Chinese culture. The number 8 sounds like "prosperity," making 88 and 888 lucky for business. Meanwhile, 4 sounds like "death" and is actively avoided—many buildings skip the fourth floor entirely.

For romance specifically, certain numbers have become traditional:

• 99 or 999 roses = everlasting love
• 520 = "I love you" (sounds like wǒ ài nǐ)
• 1314 = "forever" (sounds like yī shēng yī shì)

Combining these creates powerful messages. A gift of ¥5,201,314 would essentially mean "I love you forever."

Did She Say Yes?

After Xiao Fan's girlfriend received the rose-covered dress and recovered from the shock, she did indeed accept his proposal. Photos of the event showed her wearing the elaborate floral creation while surrounded by onlookers who had gathered to witness the spectacle.

The images went viral on Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, inspiring both admiration and jokes about how one might actually wear a dress made of roses without being stabbed by thorns.

A Growing Trend

Xiao Fan's proposal wasn't the first or last grand romantic gesture involving specific numbers in China. Elaborate proposals have become something of a competitive sport, with suitors trying to outdo each other with displays involving 99,999 red envelopes, apartments full of balloons, and LED light shows spelling out lucky numbers.

The tradition reflects a broader cultural belief that starting a marriage with the right symbols sets the tone for everything that follows. Whether or not 9,999 roses actually guarantee eternal love, they certainly demonstrate commitment—and a significant florist budget.