Meet Li Xiaoqi, the agricultural whiz who turned Heze’s peony fields into a global sensation. 🌍✨ After graduating from China Agricultural University in 2000, Li swapped city life for his hometown in Shandong Province, transforming his family’s modest 10-mu peony plot into a sprawling 2,200-mu industrial park. Think labs, cold storage, and export hubs — this is farming meets innovation at its finest! 🚜💡
Li didn’t stop there. By training hundreds of local farmers in peony cultivation, he helped lift communities out of poverty while putting Heze — nicknamed ‘China’s peony capital’ — on the map. Today, the city’s booming industry spans four sectors: seedlings, flowers, processing, and cultural tourism. 🌸📈
And the momentum isn’t slowing down! The 2025 Heze Peony Festival just launched, featuring 29 events over a month — from flower showcases to global forums. 🎉 Whether you’re a travel junkie, a sustainability buff, or just love a good bloom, Heze’s story proves that petals can pack serious economic power. 🌐💪
