The peony industry in Heze in east China's Shandong Province was projected to hit 11.8 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) in 2024. The flowers are grown for ornamental purposes, as well as for their use in health products. And the sprawling fields of peony in the city bring in throngs of visitors, looking to take in the beautiful views. The local industry is also slowly transitioning into bio-medicine, premium cosmetics and cultural IP. In fact, of the 1,308 varieties found globally, Heze possesses two types of rare oil-producing peonies.