A Date with Shandong: Lost in Heze's peony sea

The 2026 Heze Peony Festival in Heze, East China's Shandong province, celebrated the city's signature flower, where Samar Kerkeni, a foreign expert with China Daily Website, embarked on an immersive journey exploring its beauty and charm.

At the Caozhou Peony Garden, Samar took part in festival activities before visiting local cultural sites, including a calligraphy and painting institute and a traditional dough figurine workshop, where artisans demonstrated peony-inspired crafts.

She later traveled to Caoxian county's hanfu production base, where she tried on peony-themed traditional clothing that reflects the flower's growing influence on cultural design and creative industries.

The journey concluded among the blooming peonies, highlighting how Heze's peony extends beyond nature into art, heritage, and a thriving industry.