'Jiaolong' rose pays a tribute to late official

A newly bred pink rose variety named "Jiaolong" has departed Kunming, Yunnan province, for Xinjiang's Zhaosu county, serving as a tribute to He Jiaolong — a local official who died in the line of duty last month — and a symbol of the emotional connection between Yunnan and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Developed by the Flower Research Institute of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the rose was sent to Zhaosu following a public naming campaign that drew widespread participation from netizens across China.

He, 47, died on Jan 14 after falling from a horse while filming material for an e-commerce program promoting local agricultural products. She rose to national prominence in 2020 as deputy head of Zhaosu county for using livestreaming to help farmers sell produce, and later led efforts to promote agricultural branding and rural e-commerce, supporting hundreds of local businesses.

Ahead of the rose's journey, a ceremony was held in Kunming, Yunnan, to unveil its meaning — "Invincible when driven by passion" — a phrase inspired by He's final social media post. Representatives from Zhaosu county and He's relatives attended the event.

The name "Jiaolong" was officially announced on Jan 23 after online voting and expert review.

Cai Yanfei, a researcher at the institute, said the rose's soft pink blooms and unexpectedly sturdy petals mirror He's character.

"Although gentle in appearance, the flower is not fragile. It has strength and texture, which perfectly match He Jiaolong's resilience and determination,"Cai said. "People often say flowers reflect the people they are named after. We hope that whenever people see this rose, they will think of Jiaolong."

The announcement prompted an outpouring of messages online, with netizens from Yunnan and Xinjiang exchanging words of remembrance and encouragement. Local media described the interactions as a warm tribute to He and a reflection of the growing emotional bonds between the two regions, as Yunnan Daily reported.

The "Jiaolong" rose, developed over two and a half years by the institute, is an extremely valuable breeding variety with only 14 mature plants currently in existence.

It is expected to be available in the market around October after further propagation.

Wang Jihua, president of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, proposed cultivating flower varieties such as "Jiaolong", which encapsulate heroic spirit and Eastern aesthetics, as "calling cards" for Yunnan's international exchanges.

Alongside the commemorative gesture, the initiative fostered agricultural cooperation between Yunnan and Xinjiang.

On Monday, the Flower Research Institute of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences also signed cooperation agreements with a local agricultural company in Zhaosu county.

The two sides engage in deep cooperation in areas such as the introduction of flower varieties and technical exchanges, working together to promote the coordinated development of the flower industry in Yunnan and Xinjiang.

The integration of scientific research with public participation and humanistic values has enhanced the visibility of agricultural technology and offered new perspectives for cross-regional industrial collaboration, according to local officials.