Heze, the "peony capital of China", has a long history of peony cultivation and is home to more than 1,200 varieties of the flower. In recent years, the city has been ramping up efforts to boost its peony industry and build it into a pillar industry.

"Our sales have tripled over the same period last year, and we have been working overtime recently to catch up on production," said Guo Haiying, a manager at Shandong Yueru Agricultural Development Co.

The company, located in Mudan district, Heze (Mudan is Chinese for "peony"), looks plain in appearance but has been able to produce more than 1,000 tons of peony seed oil a year since it got involved in the peony industry in 2014.

Its products are not only sold in domestic first-tier cities, but also in overseas markets such as Japan, South Korea, and France.

The company has also boosted the plantation of peonies in nearby towns and villages. According to Guo, the company’s peony business has resulted in 1,446.66 hectares of peony plantations, and it has also provided long-term stable job opportunities for many nearby villagers.

"I can now earn around 3,000 yuan ($425.83) a month working on the company's peony seed oil production line, which has lifted me out of poverty," said one villager.

"My farmland has also been turned into peony fields, which brings in more money than traditional crops."

The flourishing e-commerce industry in China has also helped facilitate the development of the city's peony industry.

Guo said that sales of his company's organic peony seed oil have been soaring on e-commerce platforms.

Many horticulture companies in Heze have also introduced potted peony products to sell online and cater to younger customers with technological know-how.

"This year we cultivated 100,000 potted peonies and have sold more than 70,000," said Bao Yamin, manager of a horticulture company in Heze.

According to Bao, potted peonies are far easier to take care of and can be placed anywhere, from desks at the office to cabinets at home, and are quite popular among customers.

"The flower has improved the lives of many low-income families," said Bao, "It will make us more prosperous."