The Short Answer
China does not have an official, legally designated national flower. No single bloom has ever been written into law as the country’s national flower. However, the flower most widely treated as China’s national flower — and the one international audiences most often associate with China — is the peony (Paeonia), known in Chinese as mudan (牡丹).
In Chinese culture the peony carries the title guose tianxiang (“national beauty and heavenly fragrance”) and has stood as a symbol of wealth, honor and prosperity since the Tang Dynasty. When people outside China ask for “China’s national flower,” the peony is the answer they are almost always looking for.
Why the Peony Is Treated as China’s National Flower
The peony’s claim to national-flower status rests on more than a thousand years of cultural history.
- Tang Dynasty (AD 618–907) golden age. Peony cultivation exploded during the Tang, when the flower was planted in imperial gardens and celebrated in poetry and painting. It became the emblem of the dynasty’s prosperity.
- Empress Wu Zetian’s famous connection. Legend holds that Empress Wu Zetian — China’s only female emperor — ordered all flowers to bloom in winter. When the peony refused, she banished it from the capital at Chang’an to Luoyang, where it flourished. Whatever the historical truth, the story tied the peony permanently to Luoyang.
- “National beauty.” The phrase guose tianxiang was first applied to peonies and later became shorthand for a woman of great beauty — proof of the flower’s elevated status in the culture.
- Ongoing popular recognition. Public surveys and cultural campaigns over the past century have repeatedly put the peony (or the plum blossom) at the top of the “national flower” debate. The peony remains the front-runner in the public imagination.
Peony vs. Plum Blossom: Why There Is a Debate
The main reason China still has no official national flower is a long-running cultural argument between two candidates:
- Peony (牡丹) — the symbol of prosperity, glory and the Tang golden age. Often called the “king of flowers.”
- Plum blossom (梅花) — the symbol of resilience and perseverance, because it blooms in late winter against the cold. Often tied to the Chinese national spirit.
Because neither side has won an official vote, China simply leaves the position open. In practice, the peony is the flower most people — especially international visitors — mean when they say “China’s national flower.”
Luoyang: The Peony Capital of China
If the peony is China’s de facto national flower, then Luoyang is its home. Luoyang has cultivated peonies for over 1,400 years and is known throughout China as the “Peony Capital” (牡丹之都).
Every year from early April to early May, Luoyang hosts the Luoyang Peony Festival, one of China’s largest floral events. More than a thousand peony varieties bloom across the city’s parks, gardens and temples, drawing millions of visitors. Learn the full story in our guide to why Luoyang is called the peony capital.
Where to See Peonies in Luoyang
The festival spreads across several major parks, each with its own character:
- Wangcheng Park — the traditional heart of the festival, near the city center.
- China National Flower Garden (中国国花园) — the largest themed peony park, with rare and award-winning varieties.
- Sui and Tang Dynasty Relics Botanical Garden — peonies set among reconstructed imperial ruins.
- Luoyang International Peony Garden — newer varieties and late-blooming cultivars for visitors who arrive in late April.
Peonies are at their peak for roughly two to three weeks, so timing matters. A local guide can match your travel dates to the parks in full bloom.
See China’s National Flower in Person
The easiest way to see the peony — and the ancient capital that made it famous — is with a private, English-guided tour. Our Luoyang itineraries combine the peony festival with the Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple and the old town, with door-to-door transport and flexible scheduling.
Tell us your travel dates and we’ll build a peony-season itinerary for you — free, within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does China have an official national flower?
No. China has never passed a law designating an official national flower. The peony and the plum blossom are the two leading candidates in public opinion.
What is the most common answer for China’s national flower?
The peony (mudan, 牡丹). It is the flower most often called China’s national flower, thanks to its Tang Dynasty prestige and its title of “national beauty and heavenly fragrance.”
Where is the best place to see peonies in China?
Luoyang, Henan Province. It hosts the country’s most famous peony festival every April and has cultivated peonies for over 1,400 years.