Panyu Flower World

Panyu Flower World

From April 28 to May 12, 2004, a grand peony exhibition featuring 10,000 plants of over 350 varieties was held at Panyu Flower World in Guangzhou.

A Cultured Entrepreneur’s Ingenious Idea

This highly challenging and bold endeavor was the brainchild of a cultured entrepreneur. His name is Qu Shanning, the chairman of Panyu Haijun Garden Co., Ltd.

Two years ago, determined to forge a new path in urban agriculture, Qu Shanning leased a 100,000-square-meter plot of vacant land on Qinghe East Road in Shiyue Town, Panyu, transforming it into an urban oasis themed around “leisure shopping”—Panyu Flower World. It quickly became a magnet for city dwellers eager to buy and admire flowers.

To elevate the “Flower World” brand and showcase the technological and cultural richness of urban agriculture, Qu Shanning planned to host large-scale flower festivals throughout the seasons. But which flower should take center stage to make a splash? Drawing on his deep understanding of flower culture and the psychology of the Chinese public, he decided that the peony—symbolizing wealth and prosperity—should be the star attraction. His ingenious idea won the support of both the Shiyue Town government and the Panyu Tourism Bureau.

Since ancient times, the peony has been revered as the “king of flowers” and the “flower of wealth” due to its lush, full blooms and majestic elegance. As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, it was celebrated as the “national beauty” and “heavenly fragrance.” In 1994, during a national campaign to select China’s national flower, the peony received overwhelming support. This demonstrates that even in the new era of reform and opening up, the peony—intertwined with traditional Chinese art and culture—remains a timeless symbol of beauty and prosperity.

Experts from the South Bring the Blooms Under Control

Due to climatic limitations, peonies cannot be widely cultivated in Lingnan (southern China) like they are in Luoyang or Heze. Most peony enthusiasts in Guangdong can only catch a glimpse of them at Lunar New Year flower markets. But these southern-grown peonies, forced to bloom two months early through artificial induction, have their natural growth cycle drastically compressed. They become like “malnourished infants”—fragile, with sparse foliage and small blooms—far from the magnificent “national beauty” people imagine, leaving many disappointed.

This peony festival, however, follows the natural blooming season of peonies around the Grain Rain period, allowing them to grow fully during their required seasonal cycle, achieving the optimal visual effect of “robust plants, full blooms, and lush foliage.” To ensure the peonies bloom on schedule in the high temperatures of the south without premature wilting, Flower World specially invited a team of experts from Heze to accompany the flowers southward. They continuously applied controlled blooming techniques to guarantee a spectacular display of “prosperity in bloom” by the scheduled date, offering visitors a breathtaking visual feast. Among these “flower guardians” is renowned senior agronomist Zhao Xiaoren. Thanks to his meticulous care, Heze peonies once bloomed vibrantly for a full 15 days in the sweltering July heat of Hong Kong during the handover, amazing the local people.

A Grand Peony Banquet Unveiled

Unlike the ordinary peony exhibitions at Lunar New Year flower markets in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, this event is a uniquely crafted and exquisitely presented cultural feast of peonies—

Across the 40,000-square-meter outdoor exhibition area, rows of palm trees and tall shade trees create a tropical ambiance of “coconut breezes and banana charm.” A vibrant tapestry of colorful crape myrtles, brilliant azaleas, fragrant osmanthus, massive Java kapoks, and tens of thousands of tropical flowers forms a dazzling “Flower World.” Before even seeing the king of flowers, visitors are treated to a riot of blossoms, not only creating an immediate sense of wonder but also highlighting the regal status of the peony, the “king of flowers.”

Stepping into the 6,000-square-meter peony exhibition hall, early trial blooms of various peonies dazzle with vibrant hues and a rich, intoxicating fragrance. This metal-clad greenhouse, equipped with cooling, shading, ventilation, and rain protection, has been transformed into a modern indoor Lingnan-style garden—lush with greenery, winding paths, quaint pavilions, trickling streams, and the chirping of birds. When tens of thousands of peonies, including 350 varieties such as “Yao Huang” and “Wei Zi,” unfurl their timeless beauty in this elegant setting, the result will be nothing short of breathtakingly gorgeous.

Tourism industry insiders, upon hearing the news, have flocked to inspect the site. They believe this grand peony event, which uses modern Lingnan garden design to showcase the charm and cultural depth of peonies, not only promotes traditional national culture but also reflects the open, inclusive, and pleasure-seeking spirit of contemporary Lingnan people. It is sure to become a highlight of the May Day golden week, drawing crowds eager to immerse themselves in seas of blooming peonies.