Shangshui Roses

Shangshui Roses

　　Shangshui roses, which flourished in the late Qing Dynasty, have long been praised as "Golden Needles of Chenzhou, Fragrant Roses of Shangshui." Most of the roses were sold to Shanghai and Tianjin for rose oil production, serving as a precious ingredient for making fragrances, perfumes, soaps, cigarettes, and more. The majority were cultivated near Chengguan. The area was once designated as a national rose production base by the Ministry of Chemical Industry. Planting gradually decreased after 1990. (Zhoukou)