Ancient and Modern Peony Garden

　　The Ancient and Modern Peony Garden is situated southwest of the Caozhou Peony Garden, in Wangli Village, five li north of Heze City, making it the closest garden to the city. Its predecessor was the “Wanhua Village Garden” from the Ming Dynasty, primarily planted with peonies and tree peonies.

　　In the early years of the Republic of China, the garden was taken over by Zhang Peirong of the Caozhou Prefecture and renamed the Military Gate Garden. After liberation, the area dedicated to peony cultivation expanded year by year, and the variety of flower colors and cultivars continued to increase.

　　In 1982, the government allocated funds to renovate the garden and renamed it the “Ancient and Modern Garden.” Subsequent additional funding led to further expansions. The garden features an entrance gate in a traditional ethnic style, simple and elegant; white garden walls that exude an ancient charm; arched bridges over flowing water, and rockeries with fountains that create a harmonious scene. The garden spans 50 mu and cultivates over 300 fine varieties of peonies, as well as dozens of other rare flowers and trees such as tree peonies, wintersweet, yellow thorn rose, winter jasmine, rose, rose, lilac, crabapple, and more. Highlights include a 200-year-old pine-woven memorial archway — the Zisong Archway — majestic and beautiful, considered a unique marvel; pine-woven lions and tigers that are strikingly lifelike; a 200-year-old dragon-headed locust tree with twisted roots; a 100-year-old emerald cypress that appears misty and hazy; a 200-year-old thread cypress, unique in northern China; and the golden-thread butterfly tree, which blooms in late spring, with its flower stems turning into butterfly shapes in autumn — thousands of golden threads seemingly suspending butterflies, truly extraordinary.