The 2026 Heze Peony International Communication Forum on April 11 attracts experts and scholars from around the world to Heze, Shandong, discussing the global development of peony culture. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Peonies, the national flower of China, have long symbolized elegance and prosperity. Now, they are blooming beyond Earth. At the 2026 Heze Peony International Communication Forum on April 11, a special event titled "Voice of Peonies in Space" was unveiled. Peony images from Heze, Shandong, will be broadcast from the Youxi satellite, creating a cultural dialogue between heaven and earth.

Heze's space odyssey began in 2002, when about 200 peony seeds orbited Earth aboard Shenzhou-3 in China's first space-induced mutation experiment for peonies. Today, the first batch of "space peonies" has multiplied to over 2,000 plants, blooming earlier and with richer colors than those grown on Earth.

The city's space connection also includes native astronaut Song Lingdong, a post-90s generation native of Caoxian county. In 2024, Song took a peony painting into the China Space Station. After a 183-day mission, he returned home just as peonies were in full bloom. His journey inspired countless students.

Song Lingdong, a young astronaut from Heze, China's capital of peonies, shows off a peony painting at the China Space Station during his 183-day mission in space. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 2022, the Heze No 1 High School served as one of three ground classrooms for the Tiangong Classroom, a living teaching program by astronauts in space, reaching 1.08 million local students. Rural schools even grew 1.32-meter-long space gourds, sowing dreams of space in young hearts.

Behind the scenes, Heze's advanced manufacturing supports China's space ambitions. Shandong Zhongjie Special Equipment supplied cryogenic storage tanks for the country's first offshore rocket launch and recovery project, showcasing the city's industrial strength.

From seeds to stars, Heze peonies embody a story of tradition, science, and aspiration – blossoming not only in gardens but across the cosmos.

Lyu Hongpeng contributed to the story.