The Cao Ding Memorial Park in Tongzhou district, Nantong, kicked off its peony festival on April 12, which will run until April 20.

To improve the visitor experience in spring, the park upgraded its peony planting system last year. It added over 100 peony plants in different colors, including rare varieties like two-toned, green, and light purple flowers.

In addition to the stunning flowers fields, this year's event has also selected several of the largest, most beautiful peonies as "peony kings".

The festival also offers traditional Chinese cultural experiences, providing visitors diverse classic hanfu for free, along with accessories like hairpins, round fans, and oil-paper umbrellas, said Huang Fang, head of the maintenance section at the city's landscaping management office.

To create a traditional atmosphere, the organizers have put up light fabric decorations that match the park's riverside walkways and classical garden scenery, blending the elegance of the garden with the beauty of the peonies and adding a poetic touch to the flower-viewing experience.

A white peony is in full bloom at the Cao Ding Memorial Park in Tongzhou district, Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]