Yichuan Peony

Yichuan Peony

　　In his *Record of Luoyang Peonies* during the Song Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu wrote: “Peonies come from Danzhou and Yanzhou,” and in the *Flower Catalog*, he listed Yan’an Red and Danzhou Red, describing them as “truly outstanding varieties. They are especially abundant west of Dan and Yan, where locals even cut their stems for firewood.” At that time, peonies were so plentiful that villagers often chopped their stalks to use as firewood—a truly remarkable sight in the world.

　　Yichuan in Shaanxi was historically known as “Ancient Danzhou.” Duan Yuan Village is located about 20 kilometers north of Yichuan (Danzhou) County. A specimen ornamental peony planted in the ancestral hall of the original Zhang family (now the village committee headquarters) has been identified by experts as the “Danzhou Red” variety. Its base has a diameter of about 30 centimeters, and it blooms in early May for a period of 10–15 days, producing approximately 150–200 flowers per year. According to local lore passed down through generations, this peony once grew in a three-branched tree form, with branches several meters high, on which children used to climb and play. After suffering damage multiple times, it has now been growing for about 30 years, which estimates its age at over 500 years. With such a long lifespan, it is hailed as the “King of Danzhou Peonies” and is truly unparalleled.

　　Source: Yichuan County Government Website