On January 20, 2025, amid the vibrant spring atmosphere at Kunming's Tanhua Temple, the 14th Tanhua Temple Peony Flower Exhibition and Grand Flower Festival were launched. The exhibition themed "Phoenix Among Peonies: The Enchanting Tanhua" takes place at one of the earliest peony exhibition sites in the country, featuring over 1,000 pots of forced blooming peonies in nine major color schemes, along with 2,500 pots of cyclamen persicum and over 10,000 stalks of seasonal flowering plants. The main scenic area of the park has also been adorned with flower walls, lanterns, colorful ribbons, and hanging colored gauzes, creating numerous photo opportunities throughout the venue.

Tanhua Temple Park adheres to the foundational philosophy of "Famous Gardens, Figures, and Flowers." After 14 years of careful cultivation, the Tanhua Temple Peony Flower Exhibition has become a cultural tourism event in Kunming. This year, the park has closely collaborated with the planning team to explore cultural themes in depth and introduce innovative exhibition designs, striving to present visitors with an unprecedented visual and spiritual experience.

Peonies usually bloom from March to April, but Tanhua Temple Park takes advantage of Kunming's unique "Spring City" climate and employs the expert techniques of horticulturists to cultivate earlier bloom, ensuring that visitors can admire the "national flower" peony just in time for the traditional Spring Festival every year. This allows the peony, symbolizing "wealth and auspiciousness," to accompany the city's residents and tourists in celebrating the festive season.

Shi Xiaoxuan, the leader of the potted flower team at Tanhua Temple Park and a horticultural technician, and a craftsman from the 3rd Kunming Craftsman Event, explained that from January 20 to February 20 during the exhibition, over 1,000 pots of peonies in nine major color schemes—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, white, and multicolored—will bloom in succession, reaching their peak during the Spring Festival holiday. This year, some of the most valuable and visually striking displays include "Blue Moon," a blue-flowering peony, and "Green Eye Jade," a green peony, both showcased in the park. Additionally, a domestic peony variety known as "Subshrubby Peony"—"Wujin Yaohui," which has deep, nearly black blooms—will also be planted in the garden this year. From late February to early March, the exhibition will feature the debut display of the century-old peony "Moonlight Cup," recently introduced from Henan, which blooms in red. "Due to meticulous care during the earlier stages, overall, each pot has more and fuller buds this year," said Shi Xiaoxuan.

This flower exhibition is not only a feast of blooms but also a deep integration of culture and art. Guided by the design concept "Culture as the Soul, Art as the Color, Installations as the Form, and Images as the Memories," the exhibition features a series of themed landscapes, including the "Phoenix Among Peony Flower Workshop." This allows visitors to appreciate peonies while also experiencing profound cultural heritage and artistic charm. The park is adorned with numerous unique installations, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the integration of culture and art through various sensory dimensions, including visual, tactile, and olfactory experiences.

During the event, Tanhua Temple Park will also introduce local markets and food streets to enrich the festive experience for visitors. Guests can not only savor Kunming's unique snacks but also purchase peony-themed merchandise and exclusive park souvenirs, catering to food, shopping, and tourism needs. This initiative promotes the deep integration of the cultural tourism industry, providing visitors with a platform to enjoy beautiful scenery, taste culture, and appreciate art.

(Editors: Jennifer, Amy)