In pics: enjoy the blossoming peony flowers in Luoyang, C China’s Henan

Photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows a blossoming peony flower at the National Peony Garden in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province. (People’s Daily Online/Du Mingming)

Spring is arguably the best time to visit Luoyang in central China's Henan Province, as peonies in the city reach their peak bloom period, attracting throngs of visitors from home and abroad.

The peony symbolizes wealth, auspiciousness, happiness and prosperity. It is regarded as a top grade garden ornamental flower and has also been nicknamed the "King of Flowers." An imperial capital over 13 dynasties, Luoyang has more than 1,600 years of history in peony cultivation, and claims to have the country's best peonies.

As the earliest site of peony cultivation, Luoyang was home to systematic flower planting skills as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279). Many famous peony gardens were built, and peonies were planted on a massive scale. References to the peony can often be found in Chinese poems, paintings, calligraphy, legends and cuisines.

To appreciate these beautiful flowers, the city has held the peony culture festival every year since 1983. In 2010, the festival was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list and upgraded to a national cultural event.

The National Peony Garden in Luoyang, also known as the National Peony Gene Bank, has a massive 1,365 varieties of peony flowers, with nine colors and ten shapes. Peonies have been planted in over 77,000 mu (about 5,533 hectares) of the city, with 33,000 people working in the peony industry.

The ongoing 40th China Luoyang Peony Culture Festival will run through April 23 and the flower viewing period will last till May 5.