China's 'city of peonies' to export flowers to Australia

ZHENGZHOU — Luoyang, China's "city of peonies," will export 1 million cut flowers to Australia, as part of a flower trade cooperation.

Shenzhou Peony Co, a major flower growing enterprise in Luoyang of central China's Henan province, has signed a deal with several Australian distributors to sell 1 million peonies and Chinese herbaceous peonies to Australian customers in 2017.

"In order to pass the quarantine inspection of Australia, we have translated Australian standards and import regulations on cut flowers, and offered training to flower farmers since last year," said Guo Xueliang, head of the city's entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau.

"It is estimated that each cut flower will cost three Australian dollars, more than five times the price in China," said a deputy general manager with the company surnamed Cao.

Cao added that the company would expand its flower planting scale next year to meet the growing demand of cut flowers in foreign markets.

Statistics show that Luoyang exports fewer than 100,000 peonies and Chinese herbaceous peonies to foreign countries and regions each year. It is expected to export 20 million such flowers in the following two to three years.

The city has been growing peonies for more than 1,500 years. The flower was preferred by royal families for its luxuriant blossom, which symbolizes prosperity and wealth.