The Heze Peony Festival celebrates the cultural significance of China's "Peony Capital." This city in Shandong boasts a rich culture of the colorful flowering plant, which has inspired Chinese legends, live performances, and is even used as an ingredient in beauty products. 

During the 2023 Heze Peony Festival in April, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, Culture and Tourism Bureau, and other agencies in Heze have enriched people's understanding of peonies in various ways to preserve and pass on the unique cultural spirit of this mesmerizing flower. 

Jiang Hongdong, head of Heze's Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, credits the Mudan District Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall for the role it has played in preserving and advancing peony culture. The hall has achieved this by promoting peony-related legends and organizing various online and on-site events that integrate these with tourism promotions. 

This year's festival features a live performance on water called "Ode to Peony," staged at the Caozhou Peony Garden. Through four acts and various techniques such as a hundred-meter holographic projection screen and VR technology, the play provides an in-depth portrayal of Heze's long-lasting love affair with this special flower. The local peony industry has also been boosted by hundreds of creative products including essential oils, teas, porcelain works, wood carvings, and cosmetics. 

Longchi Peony Industry Co. LTD, which specializes in peony products, has developed over 200 items. According to Zhang Junyu, General Manager of the Longchi Peony Industry, no part of the peony goes to waste, as its roots have medicinal use and can produce oil, while its petals can be made into tea. The medicinal value of peonies has a history of over 2,000 years, as recorded in "Shennong's Materia Medica." The peony is well positioned to not only become a better-known symbol of Chinese culture but also contribute to cultural exchanges around the world. 

Heze's peony festival serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating a country's cultural heritage. By showcasing the unique cultural significance of the peony, Heze is attracting tourists while also contributing to the promotion of Chinese cultural heritage worldwide.