At a company exhibition hall in Heze, Shandong province, known as the "Peony Capital of China", a wide range of products related to the famed flower are on show, such as peony seed oil, peony cosmetics and peony artwork.

"Peony root can be used as medicine, the plant's seeds can be used to make oil, the stamens can be used to make tea and the petals can be used to extract dew. The peony has ornamental, medicinal and nutritional value, producing huge market potential," said Zhang Junyu, general manager of Longchi Peony Industry Co Ltd.

A worker prepares dry peonies. The dried flowers can maintain their original color and shape and last for a long time. [Photo provided to chinadaily. com.cn]

Heze has a more than 1,500-year history of peony flower cultivation. The city currently has a planting area of about 26,667 hectares, and 1,280 varieties of the flowers.

Currently there are 16 peony processing companies and more than 20 scientific and research institutions in Heze, developing more than 260 products. These have been exported to more than 30 countries and regions around the world, according to the city government, and providing jobs for over 100,000 people.

Ma Xianrong in Heze, Shandong province makes peony artwork with wheat straws. [Photo by Gao Yuhua for chinadaily. com.cn]