A red sea of Chinese herbaceous peonies is now in full bloom at Taibai Lake Park's Datang Peony Park in Jining, East China's Shandong province. The peony park covers an area of more than 600,000 square meters and has over 200,000 Chinese herbaceous peonies.

The Chinese herbaceous peony is commonly known as paeonia lactiflora. This stunning herbaceous woodland peony has upright red-mottled stems and dark green leaves that are elliptic or lance-shaped with rough margins, and bears usually solitary, single creamy white to pale pink blossoms that are cup-shaped and elegant in early summer. The flower has been grown in China since the 7th century as a symbol of appreciation for ornamental flowers.

A pink sea of Chinese herbaceous peonies is now in full bloom at Datang Peony Park's Taibai Lake Park in Jining, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Blooming Chinese herbaceous peonies beautify the footpaths at Datang Peony Park's Taibai Lake Park in Jining, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]

May is the best month to appreciate the blooming Chinese herbaceous peonies. [Photo/Dazhong News]