Wangcheng Park, located on the main road of Luoyang, is one of the best places to enjoy the peony flowers every April.

The park's name, Wangcheng, literally means 'the city of the king', as it was built in 1955 on the site of the capital city of the Zhou Dynasty (11BC - 22BC).

Ever since then workers in the park began growing peony flowers, the floral emblem of Luoyang and China. Now you can find over 800 categories of the flower throughout the park's Peony Garden.

Each April, during the Luoyang Peony Festival, hundreds of thousands of peonies bloom together in a majestic display of natural beauty. The prime time to enjoy the peony flowers is from April 5 to 20, according to Mrs. Wang, who's in charge of the peony planting in the park.

The peony planted here is taken good care of all-year round, including the use of organic fertilization, she said.

Besides the Peony Garden, another two major attractions in the park are the Historic Area and the Peony Culture Area.

In the Historic Area, in the west of the park, tourists could see architecture of the ancient times, such as the Jishengzhu Tablets, a Shenyuantai Hall, Jicheng Hall, Zhou Memorial Pavilion and Mingdemen Gate, which reflects the glamour of the Zhou Dynasty, Han Dynasty (206BC - 220) and Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).

The Peony Culture Area presents poems from a number of literary giants and artwork from famous calligraphers and painters. The three art forms are displayed along a long, columned corridor.

As the biggest comprehensive park in Luoyang, Wangcheng Park also has a small zoo and an amusement area, adding entertainment for the many visitors.

(CRI June 24, 2009)