By Wang Chunhong

As winter bids adieu and the season of hope and fragrance waft around, the people of Luoyang, in Henan province, know spring is here. Announcing its arrival are hundreds and thousands of exquisite-smelling peonies, China’s traditional flowers that draw in visitors from various parts of the country as well as the world.

Luoyang, located in Central China, with a glorious cultural history as the center of 13 ancient capitals of the country, is the place to be when the cold days are waning. It is the elegant peony, in every shade and hue, which brings in the warmth and allround cheer. This year too the Luoyang annual peony festival will celebrate the onset of spring and good fortune from April 10 onwards for a month.

It was in the year 1982 that peony was named the city flower of Luoyang and an annual fair held to celebrate this breathtaking sight of peonies in full bloom. Since then this peony-themed festival has become a favourite tourist destination for spring visitors.

The Luoyang Peony characterizes elegance and grace. As there are scores of varieties of peony here and that too in rare colours, the Luoyang Peony has been bestowed with the title of “King of the Flower Kingdom” and enjoys the reputation of being the “Luoyang Peony Ranking the First under Heaven”. During the peony festival, one can feast over the amazing panorama of colors while soaking in the beautiful fragrance.

Adding to the attraction of these scented flowers spread across vast acres of gardens, are other interesting peony-led cultural offerings for the people. The peony pageant will include theater performance at the opening ceremony, which will unfold this magnificent flower by means of peony song, peony pictures, peony dance and peony clothing.

One of the most soughtafter peony gardens in Luoyang is the Wangcheng Park which transforms itself into a stunning bed of colorful peonies in the month of April.