The peony, consistently hailed as the "national flower," has captivated generations of poets and artists. The Tang Dynasty, in particular, witnessed a surge of peony-themed verses. Iconic lines like Liu Yuxi's "Only the peony is truly a national beauty; when it blooms, it moves the capital," Li Bai's "Her face is like a flower leaning dewy in spring breeze," and Bai Juyi's "For twenty days the flowers bloom and fall, the whole city goes wild with delight" immortalize the peony's splendor.
Beyond the renowned Luoyang peonies, the Yili Jia Ancient Peony Garden in Xinyi, Jiangsu, has also recently burst into full bloom. Thousands of ancient peony trees, some centuries old, are putting on a breathtaking display, drawing crowds of visitors.
What sets the Yili Jia ancient peony garden apart is its collection of a thousand ancient peony trees, each over a century old. These trees were carefully sourced from the Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia regions by Mr. Zhu Xianbing, the founder of Yili Jia. "The garden houses a thousand ancient peony trees, each representing a different family and their unique story. Every peony tree has witnessed generations of family history," he explains. Due to their diverse growing environments, each tree blooms at a slightly different time. A closer look reveals their unique forms, making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience – "a thousand trees, a thousand scenes." It's a stunning spectacle!
Beyond the ancient peony garden, Yili Jia's other attractions, such as the Soy Sauce Culture Museum and the millennium-old cliffside cypress trees, are also popular with visitors. The Soy Sauce Culture Museum boasts an antique and imposing exterior, while its interior features intricately carved beams and painted rafters with auspicious dragon motifs. Whether you're a photography enthusiast or love ancient makeup, you'll find inspiration here.
The 2024 Yili Jia Open Day also featured interactive activities such as the "Showcasing the Beauty of Yili Jia" photography contest, an interactive coloring DIY game, and hand-painted peony umbrellas. Visitors were also treated to custom-made, zero-additive soy sauce featuring the ancient peony flower as a signature design element, highlighting its zero-additive, premium flavor.
The Yili Jia Open Day has been held for three consecutive years, establishing itself as another carefully crafted brand festival following the "Yili Jia Soy Sauce Festival." Savor the sauce, admire the flowers – Yili Jia's garden-style industrial park will continue to delve into its cultural heritage, uphold its craftsmanship quality, continuously launch better products, and consistently upgrade its industrial + tourism projects. Definitely worth checking out!
