Dubbed the "Peony Capital of China" for its role as a key base for peony production, research, exports, and sightseeing, Heze, Shandong province held a news conference on April 3 to discuss its preparations for the upcoming World Peony Conference and the 32nd Heze International Peony Cultural Tourism Festival, which will run from April 8 to 10.

Heze has a long history of peony flowers and is dubbed the "Peony Capital of China". [Photo/Caoxian news]

Heze has a long history of peony flowers. It is a cradle for wildlife species and horticultural species, as well as home to a whole industrial chain of the peony industry.

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

Based on its resource endowment and industrial foundation, the local government has launched a package of favorable policies to accelerate the planting, deep processing, and brand image of Heze peonies, as well as to boost the integrated development of the industry, one of the top 10 characteristic sectors in Shandong.

Home to more than 120 enterprises that specialize in the production, processing, and export of peonies, Heze has developed more than 260 kinds of peony-related products, including seed oil, tea, cosmetics, daily necessities, as well as biomedicine.

Its products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions around the globe, including the United States, France, Germany, and Japan.

Heze is home to a whole industrial chain of the peony industry. [Photo/Caoxian news]

The city has mapped out an action plan to bolster the peony industry through key measures, such as building a core area for the development of China's peony industry.

The plan follows the principles of turning peonies into products, following the government's guidance and marketization trends, while focusing on the key points of leadership, market, innovation, policy, as well as the integrated development of culture and industries.

Under the concept of popularization, marketization, industrialization, human culture, and internationalization, this year's event will present a visual feast for visitors with emphasis on such sectors as mass participation, cultural exchanges, as well as the integration of culture and tourism industries.

It will cover 71 activities in nine major sections: an opening ceremony, forums, trade negotiations, tourism, cultural performances, art exhibitions, folk customs, sports and healthcare, as well as the online festival.