Luoyang Peony Fair ClosesThe Nineteenth Peony Fair Closed Wednesday in Luoyang, in central China's Henan Province.The flowers will continue to blossom till mid-May, and visitors during the Labor Day holiday will be able to appreciate Luoyang's renowned peonies. The peony has been proposed as the national flower of China, according to a local official. The capital of several Chinese dynasties, Luoyang is famous for its peonies, with the cultivated acreage currently exceeding 300 ha in its urban area. Up to now, the city has developed over 600 kinds of peonies of its own and keeps introducing new species from overseas. During the 10-day event, nearly 1.8 million tourists from both at home and abroad flocked to every park and square in the city to view the sea of beautiful flowers. In addition to displaying peonies, the fair also organized a variety of economic activities, and recorded a trading volume totaling 2.1 billion yuan (about US$253 million). The organizer said the various trade fairs attracted businessman from 12 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, Russia, Singapore and Hong Kong. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |