The 32nd Heze International Peony Cultural Tourism Festival opened in Heze city in East China's Shandong province on April 7, and the World Peony Conference opened in the city on April 8, local media reported.

Dubbed the "Peony Capital of China" for its role as a key base for peony production, research, exports, and sightseeing, Heze is home to a whole industrial chain in the peony industry. The city is prepared to welcome guests and visitors from around the world and invite them to appreciate the charm of the "Peony Capital of China".

The cultivation of peonies in Heze began more than 1,500 years ago. During the founding of New China in 1949, peonies across the country were completely destroyed by consecutive years of war, and only Heze retained 118 peony varieties, which accounted for more than 70 percent of the total number of the country.

Peonies bloom in Heze. [Photo by Kong Yaping/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Nowadays, after the hard work of several generations of Heze peony agricultural technicians, new varieties of the peony are emerging every year.

Heze peonies come in 10 types and 1,280 varieties, and its number of newly cultivated varieties accounts for 80 percent of the total in China.

This year's event is intended to present a visual feast for visitors with an emphasis on such sectors as mass participation, cultural exchanges and integrating culture and tourism industries.

Over 71 activities in nine major categories: opening ceremony, forums, trade negotiations, tourism, cultural performances, art exhibitions, folk customs, sports and healthcare, and an online festival are scheduled to take place during the event.

As one of the main venues for viewing peony flowers and the location of the launch ceremony for the Heze International Peony Cultural Tourism Festival, Caozhou Peony Garden has enhanced the cultural connotation of peony appreciation, and interspersed peony cultural elements into various attractions and formats.

It has also organized various activities and prepared diversified scenarios for appreciating peonies, including night peony viewing, live drama performances, and peony food competitions.

Heze is dubbed the "Peony Capital of China". [Photo by Sang Qiuhua/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]