The peony, a symbol of prosperity and happiness in China, has taken root as a cross-cultural ambassador through the intricate dough sculptures of Heze artisan Shi Zhenshan. The 2025 World Peony Conference and Heze International Peony Culture and Tourism Festival, launched this week in Shandong Province, spotlight the flower’s role in global cultural exchange.
Shi Zhenshan, an 8th-generation dough sculptor and UNESCO-recognized inheritor of China’s intangible heritage, has spent nearly two decades introducing Heze’s peony-themed art to Los Angeles. “Americans love peonies, but few initially understood their cultural significance,” says Shi, whose vibrant creations now showcase the flower’s symbolism of “wealth and honor” to U.S. audiences.
This cultural bridge aligns with Heze’s ambitions as China’s peony capital. The city exports over 100 million peony-related products annually while hosting global horticultural dialogues. Artists interviewed at the festival emphasized how such exchanges allow traditional crafts to evolve while preserving their essence—a process exemplified by Shi’s fusion of Heze’s botanical heritage with contemporary cross-cultural storytelling.
