Appreciate peony flowers in Heze. [Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the 31st International Peony Cultural Tourism Festival in Heze, Shandong province, began on April 8 via online channels.

The event, which will run through May 31, will feature a series of live streaming activities on peony blooming, peony appreciation, and peony-themed hot events, providing guests from across the world with a sea of peony flowers without having to leave their homes.

Heze, dubbed the "Peony Capital of China", has a long history of peony flower cultivation. Currently, the city has a peony planting area of about 400,000 mu (26,666.67 hectares) with 1,280 varieties.

The city has developed into the country's largest base for peony cultivation, research, sales and export. It has formed a peony industry development chain integrating industrial technology, seedling breeding, large-scale planting, industrial processing, sightseeing and tourism.

The event aims to help more people at home and abroad to get to know Heze, and the city's peony culture and peony industry.

Peonies are in full bloom at Heze Caozhou Peony Garden, which is one of the most popular places in the city to appreciate peonies.[Photo/chinanews.com]