Crowds gather to look at peonies that are in full bloom in Luoyang, Henan Province, on April 13, 2024. 

The peony, known as the “king of flowers” in China, is one of the country’s most celebrated flowers. Luoyang, a historically significant city in Henan Province, is widely considered the birthplace of peonies and a center of peony culture, which originated in the city over 1,600 years ago. Today, the city boasts enormous peony varieties, a long cultivation history, and a rich culture surrounding the flower. 

As early as the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, Luoyang had developed remarkable peony planting skills, with over a hundred varieties of the flower. At that time, nearly every household grew peonies, giving rise to a tradition of flower appreciation and a vibrant peony culture characterized by poetry, painting, legends, and clothing related to the flower. 

In 1982, the peony was named the official flower of Luoyang, which has since hosted the Luoyang Peony Festival from April 15 to 25 each year. In 2008, the festival was included in the list of China’s national intangible cultural heritage items. It was later renamed China Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival. Today, the city boasts 1,400 peony varieties and there are more than 240 enterprises and 33,000 people working in the peony industry. 

The 41st China Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival was held from April 1 to 15 in 2025, and Luoyang recorded an estimated 10.16 million visits during this period. 

This year, at the Luoyang National Peony Garden, over 300 varieties of peonies bloomed in abundance. Meanwhile, at the China National Flower Garden, smart temperature and humidity control systems helped adjust flowering season, offering visitors an opportunity to admire rare blooms. During the festival, peony-themed cultural activities such as flower viewing, lantern displays, painting, and poetry writing were held to enrich visitor experience. Beyond parks, bright peonies also brighten up the flower beds of streets across the city.