Rose flowers are in full bloom in Pingyin county, Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo/qlwb.com]

The rose was elected as the city flower of Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 17th Jinan Municipal People's Congress on April 20.

This means that the city currently has two city flowers – lotus flowers and roses.

The selection of rose as the city flower will further promote the rose industry in Jinan, improve the popularity and reputation of rose flowers in Pingyin county – which is known as "the home of roses in China" – and enhance the image of the provincial capital, said Wang Guofu, director of the Jinan bureau of the landscape and forestry.

Jinan has a booming rose processing industry. [Photo/qlwb.com]

Jinan has been planting roses for more than 1,300 years. The city currently has a rose planting area of 60,000 mu (4,000 hectares) and more than 40 rose processing enterprises. Rose processing products in Jinan have more than 130 varieties ranging from food to medicine, and have been sold to more than 10 countries and regions.

In 2020, Pingyin roses were ranked first among regional public brands in terms of online influence, with a brand value of 2.79 billion yuan ($430.2 million).

Pingyin county will host its annual rose cultural festival on May 7. A series of promotional activities will be held to deepen international exchanges and cooperation in rose industry.