The 33rd Heze International Peony Culture and Tourism Festival is set to kick off on April 8 in Heze, Shandong province. During the month-long celebration, Heze will be transformed into a sea of peonies, welcoming visitors from all over the world to witness their spectacular beauty.

Renowned as the "hometown of Peonies," Heze boasts the largest peony cultivation and research center in the world. The city's fertile soil and favorable climate make it an ideal region for growing the flowers, with over 486,000 mu (32,400 hectares) of land dedicated to peony cultivation. Heze is home to 10 peony gardens, including the world's largest and most diverse - the Caozhou Peony Garden. In 2023, Heze boasted a staggering 1,308 peony varieties.

In addition to mesmerizing flower displays, the festival will feature a series of exciting events.

The Caoxian County Hanfu Cultural Festival will take place at the Caozhou Peony Garden from April 6 to May 6, showcasing hanfu (a traditional Chinese-style clothing) culture through recitations and fashion shows, while the 2024 Heze Peony International Communication Forum is scheduled to kick off on April 12.

Throughout April, the Heze Grand Theater will present 17 performances, including ballets, plays, concerts, and children's plays, while from April 5 to 20, the city will host its first College Students Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival, blending intangible cultural heritage culture, Shandong handicrafts, and career advice to bring peony culture into campuses.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for visitors, Heze has made detailed preparations. Five special flower-viewing routes have been established, and 15 carefully-designed tourist routes catering to different groups, such as flower lovers, young tourists, leisure travelers, and families with children, have been launched recently.

Heze is ready to present an unforgettable springtime extravaganza to visitors from around the globe.