The 2025 Heze Peony International Communication Forum has opened in Heze, east China's Shandong Province, celebrated as the "peony capital of China."
This grand convergence of culture, diplomacy, and innovation unites diplomats, artists, and scholars to explore the peony’s role in cultural diplomacy.
Every April, the forum transforms the city into a fragrant sea of blooms, welcoming visitors from around the world to admire the peony, a traditional Chinese floral symbol of beauty and prosperity, cherished by international attendees.
"The best example is what is on my head, this is a flower hoop and when I saw it, I was just like, oh yes, I want it. I wanted to have it on my head, because the flowers are so big and beautiful. It's beautiful when you're seeing so many peonies are out," said Anzelika Smirnova, a foreign expert, Cultural Communication Center, China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.
Heze, the world's largest hub for peony breeding, cultivation, research, processing, export, and appreciation, has recently enhanced its peony characteristics and cultivation techniques, developing nine major color schemes, 10 flower types, and over 1,300 varieties.
Every year, internationally renowned photographers flock to the city to capture the beauty of peonies, immersing themselves in the flower's vibrant and culturally rich heritage during this picturesque season.
"I will try to show to the world my best with my photography about the province of Shandong and especially for Heze because its magical how the visual arts transcend different cultures and because of photography, I come here in China, and I have friends here in China. I saw how the people and the flowers are connecting with each other," said Hristo Dimitrov, Deputy Liaison Officer for Bulgaria, International Federation of Photographic Art.
These blooms are not only a feast for the eyes - they are also a bridge that connects China to the world.

China's "peony capital" hosts int'l forum, showcasing floral charm