Peonies blossom at the Sui and Tang Dynasties Relic Garden in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province, March 30, 2021. The city has a 1,500-year history of cultivating peonies and claims to have the country's best. /CFP
A peony festival kicked off on Thursday in Luoyang, a city in central China's Henan Province with a 1,500-year history of cultivating the plant.
The festival's 39th edition will run through May 10, offering a visual feast through a variety of online and offline events, according to the information office of the provincial government.
Visitors admire peonies at a park in Luoyang, Henan Province, March 27, 2021. /CFP
Garden parties, lantern shows and flower parades will be held across more than 20 peony gardens in the city, and events such as flower arrangement contests and peony-themed poetry recitals will also be held.
A peony blossom in Luoyang City, Henan, March 28, 2021. /CFP
A 24-hour livestream show featuring Luoyang's peony culture and industry will be staged April 10 and 11, the office said.
Peonies blossom in Luoyang City, March 30, 2021. /CFP
The festival has been selected as an example of a national intangible cultural heritage and has become a calling card for the city.
An imperial capital during 13 dynasties, Luoyang claims to have the country's best peonies. The flower was a favorite of royal families for its luxuriant blossoms that came to symbolize prosperity and wealth.