Luoyang Kicks off 32nd Annual Peony Festival

World Today

Spring has burst into color in central China. For the thirty-second year, the city of LuoYang in Henan Province is hosting a festival celebrating the peony, China’s national flower.

It’s happened again, right on schedule. Peonies have burst into bloom all across Luoyang. Millions of tourists, green-thumb gardeners and peony lovers are flocking to the city where the vast blooms of dazzling peony attacks the senses.

Luoyang was the capital of 13 Chinese dynasties. Cultivating and nurturing the peony has been a favorite pastime of locals for more than 15-hundred years.

Luoyang Kicks off 32nd Annual Peony Festival

Spring has burst into color in central China. For the thirty-second year, the city of LuoYang in Henan Province is hosting a festival celebrating the peony, China's national flower.

This year’s peony festival opened on Thursday and it will last for a month. Over 1000 species of peonies are on show throughout the city. The festival also features a photography contests and talent shows.

Peony porcelain is one such craft. It perfectly combines peony design with traditional porcelain crafts; two of the most distinctive icons of China. Each step of the process requires strict standards and creativity. Forming, decorating, glazing and firing ceramic wares with an extreme care.

With the peony symbolizing riches and honor, it’s little wonder the flower has become ubiquitous. It can be found on textiles, silk scarves and in food and tea.