Luoyang is a small city “lying in the
centre of the earth” near to the south of the Yellow River in Henan province.
For several centuries, Luoyang was the gravity center of China. It’s well
known as "The Capital of Nine Dynasties". It is one of the most
important origins of Chinese civilization.
Peony
flowers, along with the Longmen Grottoes and Shui Xi or the Water
Banquet are considered the Three Wonders of Luoyang. Here you can see
all kinds of peonies with colors ranging from red, pink and white to the
rarest dark. When spring comes, the whole city is enshrouded in the sweet
fragrance of peony. Throughout the centuries, the peonies have been a
source of inspirations of poets and painters in China. In 1982, it was
selected as the city flower of Luoyang, and Luoyang is reputed in China
as the “City of Peonies”. And since 1983, Luoyang Peony Fair is held every
year from 15th to 25th in April. With over 90 in species by color and
shape, peony is the symbol of wealth for Chinese people, frequently appeared
on Chinese embroidery work and on Chinese ladies’ dress - Qipao.
It
generally said that if one wishes to learn the ups and downs of China,
it will be enough to study Luoyang. The history of Luoyang as a town and
later as a city runs much longer than that of it as a capital. Documents
and cultural relics are continually being found here by archaeologists.
Recent evidence, discovered in the Neolithic site found in the west of
the city, showed that Luoyang has been a habitat for human being 7,000
years ago.
Buddhism was introduced here as early as 68 AD from Nepal. The first
Buddhist Temple in China – White Horse Temple was constructed here. Nearby
Shaolin Temple has long been regarded as the hometown of Chinese martial
arts. |