Many cities in northern and central China have Tree Peony Gardens in public parks. The following is just a selection. The main flowering season is the last two weeks of April.

Beijing: Beijing Botanical Garden has a Tree Peony Garden with 5,500 tree peonies (230 varieties) and 2,500 herbaceous peonies (200 varieties). The Garden is in two pans, the northern at Sleeping Buddha Temple Road, Western Suburbs and the southern at 20, Nanxingcun, Xianshan, Beijing.

The Imperial Garden's Tree Peony Garden in the Forbidden City.

Jing Shan Park's Tree Peony Garden.

Zhongshan Park's Tree Peony Garden.

Heze: Shandong Province: Annual International Tree Peony Fair from 20 to 28 April.

Caozhou Hundred Flower Garden.

Ancient and Modern Tree Peony Garden.

Caozhou Tree Peony Garden (combining Zhao Lou garden owned by the Zhao family who have grown and bred peonies for generations, Li Ji garden and He Lou garden).

Lanzhou: Gansu Province: Peace Tree Peony Garden where 'Black Swan' peony originated. Flowering season is in May

Luoyang: Henan Province. Annual Peony Festival from 15 to 25 April.

Tree peony garden in Wang Cheng Park, the site of the capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 bc ) 19,800 plants of 320 different varieties.

Beauty of the Empire Tree Peony Garden (200,000 plants, 400 varieties), on a hillside at a higher elevation, therefore a little later coming into flower.

Pengzhou: Sichuan Province: Pengzhou, or Tianpeng, was famous for its peonies during the Tang Dynasty. Dan Jing Shan Tree Peony Garden. 10,000 plants, 200 varieties, some very old of local origin.

Shanghai: Shanghai Botanical Garden, Longwu Road, Shanghai. 120 tree peony varieties.

Taiyuan: Shanxi Province: Twin Pagoda Monastery Peony Garden. Home of 'Purple Cloud Fairy' peonies.

Xian: Shaanxi Province: Xian Botanical Garden, Cuiha Road. 200 tree peony varieties.

Yan'an: Shaanxi Province: Thousand Flower Mountain Tree Peony Garden. 30,000 plants, 12 local varieties.

[Fearnley-Whittingstall]

Famous Peony Gardens [Wang]

The cradles of production and development of Chinese Peonies are the Yellow River and the Central Plains where they have become a beautiful and unique group of plants.

The love of peony flowers is a strong tie linking all the descendants of the Chinese nation, and the peony flower has become a symbol of the nation's pride. The cultivation of peonies pervades all parts of the country except Hainan Province, and famous peony gardens can be seen all over China. The peony flowering season is one of the nation's great occasions, when all manner of people pour into gardens to appreciate and enjoy the sumptuous blossom.

Some famous peony gardens are briefly introduced here.

1. The Peony Garden in the King's Town (Wangcheng) Park, Henan

The name comes from the location, which is the site of the ruins of the King's Town in ancient East Zhou Dynasty. Constructed initially in 1956, this garden has become an important place in Luoyang to enjoy penies. In its total area of 37.07hm- 19800 peonies of 320 varieties are planted in 13 340m². Over 20 varieties have been introduced from Japan. Some delightful entertainment places have been built in the park, such as a peony pavilion as well as a parterre group with a Peony Maiden sculpture. Between April 15th and 25th, the yearly peony fair attracts many thousands of people, reaching a peak of 250 000 people daily.

2. The Peony Garden in the Peony Park, Henan

This park in Luoyang is well-known for its peonies. It was built in 1956 and covers 5.87hm². Peonies are the main flower in the park, occupying 5660m².

In the 10 peony parterres 3 960 peonies are grown, including over 200 varieties.

3. The Peony Garden in Xiyuan Park, Henan

Originally named Botanical Garden, it was renamed Xiyuan (Western Landscape) because the location was once the western landscape of the Sui Dynasty. Built in 1958 with a total area of 13.14hm², over 6000 peonies from nearly 200 varieties are planted in over 10 000m².

4. Guose (National Colours) Peony Garden, Henan

Since it was built in 1985, 200 000 peonies in about 400 varieties have been planted in 10hm². In 1992 it was designated the State Peony Gene Pool by the Forestry Ministry of the People's Republic of China. Since it is on Mount Mangshan and the flowering time is later than in the city, later visitors to Luoyang can still enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the flowers here.

5. Luoyang Peony Garden, Henan

Built in 1992, it covers a total area of 10hm². In its 6.7hm² 380 varieties amounting to approximately 100000 peonies are cultivated. In 1994, more than 200 plants of 11 famous foreign varieties, including the Japanese 'Jin Di' and 'Tai Yang', were introduced.

6. Caozhou Peony Gardens, Shandong

Located in the Peony County, Heze of Shandong province, they consist of three gardens, Zhaolou, Liji and Helou. In the total area of73hm², there are over 400 peony varieties. The Caozhou Peony Gardens are the largest peony gardens in the country with the greatest number of varieties. Since the peony is the city flower of Heze, the period between April 22nd and 28th each year is entitled Heze International Peony Fair. Millions of domestic and foreign visitors go to see the flowers because of their reputation.

(1) Zhaolou Peony

entrance to the 24hm Zhaolou Peony Garden is an antique elegant and colourful Paifang (memorial archway) with the Chinese words Caozhou Peony Gardens on it. There are over 400 tree peony varieties and over 200 herbaceous peony varieties. An interesting and novel building of classic style called the Watching Flowers Tower is built in the garden. In front of it, two erect stone tablets are inscribed with Pujie's The Greatest Fragrance Under the Heaven and Shu Tong's

Caozhou Peonies over the Top of the World. Selection and breeding of new cultivars has been carried out for many years in the garden. As a result, some well-known varieties such as 'Fen Zhong Guan', 'Guan shi Mo Yu' and 'Zi Yao Tai' have been cultivated.

(2) Liji Peony Garden The garden, located to the north of Zhaolou Peony Garden, also has a colourful Paifang as its gate, with the same words Caozhou Peony Gardens on it. In the total area of 20hm² tree peonies are widely planted along with herbaceous peonies and other flowering shrubs. By climbing the

antique four-storey Tower of Heavenly Fragrance, the panorama of the garden can be seen. A huge banksia rose with a curved and twisted trunk gives off a rare fragrance, adding to the feeling of elegance and grace.

(3) Helou Peony Garden It is situated to the northeast of the Zhaolou Peony Garden and covers 26.7hm². It is mainly planted with traditional tree peony varieties together with herbaceous peonies and many flowering shrubs.

7. Caozhou Hundred-Flower Garden, Shandong

It was originally built in 1958 to the north of Hongmiao Village of Peony County and called Hongmiao Garden. The government granted funds in 1982 for rebuiling and it was renamed Hundred-Flower Garden. In the area of approximately 6.7hm², there is novel and unique gate, a reception building and a pebble-mosaic tourist path. Among 60 000 peonies of over 400 varieties, there are both prestigious traditional varieties and new plants of excellent characteristics. These include 'Chun Hong Jiao Yan', 'Jing Yu', 'Yin Hong Qiu' and 'Bai Yuan Fen'. Also some plants have been introduced from Japan. Many groups of tourists from China and other countries are attracted by the great number of varieties with their own special features concentrated in a comparatively small place.

8. Past-Present (Gujin) Peony Garden, Shandong

Located in Wangli Village, in Peony Country of Heze, it occupies about 1.7hm², As flower cultivation has been a tradition in Wangli Village from ancient times, tree peonies here are mainly planted with other flowering bushes. A special feature is juniper weaving and modelling, a traditional art among the local villagers who create the shapes of gate towers, Paifang, lions and tigers, etc. A large example is the juniper Paifang Diligent Reading Paifang (Zisong Fang). This has lasted for over 200 years, and still remains luxuriant and vigorous with a clear outline. In the garden, there is also a 100-year-old Chinese pagoda tree.

9. Peony Garden in Beijing Botanical Gardens

The Peony Garden is one of the specialised gardens in the Beijing Botanical Gardens. It was initially built in 1981 and opened to the public in April 1983. In its 6.7hm² over 5 500 tree peonies of 230 varieties introduced from Heze, Luoyang and Tianshui are planted. There are also more than 200 herbaceous peony varieties numbering up to 2 500 plants. On a hill, 93 kinds of trees and shrubs are deliberately and skilfully arranged in a natural style. The varied layers and careful distribution have created a splendid environment for growing peonies and enjoyable areas for visitors. Three buildings in the garden, Squared Pavilion, Doubled Pavilion and Tower of A Hundred Flowers, are added attractions. A huge porcelain wall facing the gate describes the myth of peony goddesses Gejin and Yuban. A group of artistic stones in front of the middle gate are carved with four Chinese characters written by Mr Wu Zuoren, a famous painter, meaning "thousand clusters like glowing snow", a vivid depiction of the peony scene in the flowering season. In the centre of the garden, a sculpture of the sleeping peony maiden adds the finishing touch to the whole work of the garden.

10. Peony Garden in Jingshan Park, Beijing

Located inside the East Gate of the Jingshan Park in Beijing, it occupies about 1 200m², in which are planted approximately 700 peonies of 130 famous varieties all introduced from Heze in Shandong province. It is the best place to appreciate peonies in downtown Beijing. Since most of the peony plants are several decades old, giant flowers grow on twisted stems and old twigs, showing the typical plant form of the different varieties. The garden, with its regular flower beds surrounded by paths, is divided into two parts. The eastern part contains mature peonies of several decades old, while in the western part, younger peonies are being nursed. The beds are edged with low hedges of Chinese trees which provide protection and an excellent background for the peonies. The careful administration and cultivation of the large tree peonies is based on a rich accumulation of experience. The brilliant peonies of various famous varieties grouped together display to perfection a blaze of colour.

11. Peony Garden in Zhongshan Park, Beijing

In the front of this park, to the west of Beijing's Tiananmen Square, 1 000 plants of over 100 well-known varieties are cultivated among ancient cypresses. The ten-year-old large-flowered plants grow luxuriantly and clearly benefit from careful administration. Tourists deeply appreciate the inspirational sight of the brilliant flowers in an open woodland setting.

12. Peony Garden in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City, Beijing

Tree peonies have been widely planted in the Imperial Garden since the Qing Dynasty because the tree peony was then the state flower. One feature of the garden is the way that the dignified and graceful peonies and the resplendent and magnificent ancient buildings contrast with and complement each other. Another is the natural and harmonious arrangement of flowers planted in parterres or with mountainous rocks and sword-shaped stones.

13. Peace Peony Garden, Gansu

This garden, started in 1967, is in the southeast suburb of Lanzhou in Yuzhong County of Gansu Province. It contains over 200 varieties. The Central Plains varieties have also been introduced from Luoyang and Heze. The breeding work has involved cultivated plants of authentic ancestral species, particularly P. rockii, which were either collected from the wild or introduced from other sources. It is the largest cultivation and reproduction base of the Northwest peony cultivar group in a peony-growing area of 8.7 hm², and includes 130 000 plants, many of Gansu Mudan type. Some famous new varieties, such as 'Hei Tian E', which flowers in May.

14. Peony Garden in Mount Danjingshan, Sichuan

It is located in Jiulong Town, 16km away from Pengzhou city, Sichuan province. This city was named Tianpeng in ancient times and was famous for peonies as early as the Dynasties of Tang and Song. In 1985, the tree peony was adopted as the city flower. Peonies have been widely planted and can be appreciated in several areas. These include Peony Ground, Heavenly Fragrance Garden, Red Sun Glow Garden, Eternal Peace Yard and Steles Forest Garden on Mount Danjingshan with an elevation of 1 147m. They are the gardens in the southwest part of China where the greatest quantity of tree peonies are planted, numbering about 100 000 peonies of over 200 varieties. In addition, a peony garden in downtown Pengzhou Gardens occupies 0.7hm² and more than ten old local varieties are cultivated. The yearly peony fair attracts tremendous numbers of people. When the flowers fade in the downtown areas, those on Mount Danjingshan are still in bloom. Because of their later flowering, the total period for people to enjoy peony flowers is increased.

15. Mount Wanhua Peony Garden, Shaanxi

This garden is opposite Huayuantou Village, 15km west of Yan'an of Shaanxi Province. There were visitors to this garden as early as the Song Dynasty, according to historical records. Before 1949, people from scores of kilometres around would go to the temple fair and enjoy the flowers on April 8th of the lunar calendar. The total area on the mountain is 126 hm², where 30 000 plants of 12 local peony varieties are divided into five groups: yellow, purple, red, pink and white. The flowers centred around Temple Cuimjun were frequently visited and appreciated because of their unique arrangement among green pines and verdant cypresses. In 1939 and again in 1940 the leaders of the Chinese Communist party Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai went there to view the tree peonies.

16. Peony Garden in Lake Tian-jing Park ofTongling, Anhui

It was built initially in 1986 in Tongling, Anhui Province. On 1hm² of cultivated land nearly 10 000 peonies of 140 varieties, including over ten local varieties, are planted. A natural arrangement based on the terrain has been adopted, creating an abundance of interesting scenery. It is an important centre in Anhui for the appreciation of peonies, and the peony is the city flower ofTongling.

17. Peony Garden in Shanghai Botanical Gardens

Situated in Longhua in Shanghai, this garden covers an area of 4.3hm². There are over 7 000 peonies of almost 100 varieties, mainly from Heze in Shandong, Lanzhou/ in Gansu and Tongling in Anhui. Elegant and unique pavilions, corridors and halls provide visitors with a beautiful environment of appreciation of the plants. Foreign and domestic visitors gather here during flowering, as it is the best place in Shanghai to view peonies. Since 1993, the annual Shanghai Peony Fair has been a welcome attraction to travellers, and it has also brought good social benefits. In addition, peony seedlings have been exported to Holland, USA, Italy and France.

18. Dry Twig Peony Garden, Jiangsu

Located south of Yancheng in Biancang County of Jiangsu Province, this garden has a history of 700 years. The 0.7hm² is divided into two parts, the East Garden and the West Garden. In the West Garden there are more than ten red or white peonies that were planted in the Dynasties of Song and Yuan. One tree is as high as 1.9m with a crown diameter of 3.5m, and a trunk diameter, thickest at the base, of 9cm.

Nearly 200 flowers grow on it. The branches of these remarkable plants have the appearance of old dry wood. This has given rise to the name Dry Twig Peony. A couplet specially written by General Zhang Aiping of the People's Republic of China is shown on the hall pillars: "Sea water three thousand Zhang, Peony flowers seven hundred years." In the East Garden there is a collection of over 500 peony plants in more than 70 excellent varieties from Heze and Luoyang.

19. Double-Pagoda Tempi Garden, Shanxi

The garden is situated in the Double-Pagoda Temple in the suburbs of Taiyuan in Shanxi Province. More than ten peonies of the cultivar 'Zi Xia Xian' from the Ming Dynasty have grown there for over 300 years Their branches and twigs look hoary and old but grow luxuriantly. The 2m high trees flower profusely. Approximately 100 varieties have been introduced from Luoyang and Heze. At flowering time, the lush, splendid peonies and the peacefully secluded temple uniquely complement each other in radiance and elegant beauty. It is an important place in Taiyuan for appreciating peonies.

There are many other famous peony gardens in the People's Republic of China. There is not enough space to introduce them one by one in detail. They include: Peony Garden, Beijing Botanical Gardens of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Peony Garden in Huagang Guanyu (Watching Fishes at Flowery Harbour) in Hangzhou; Nanji Peony Garden in Ningguo County, Anhui Province; Hongyuan Peony Garden and Dagongbei Mosque Peony Garden in Zhaotong and Mount Lion Peony Garden in Wuding County of Yun'nan Province; Peony Garden in Eternity Temple, Mount Emei in Sichuan Province; Mount Muoshan Peony Garden in Wuhan in Hubei Province; Peony Garden in Xingqing Park, Xi'an of Shaanxi Province; the Sun Yatsen Mausoleum Peony Garden in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province; Flower Nursery Peony Garden in Bijie, Guizhou; and Peony Garden in Mount Alishan in Taiwan Province.