Significance of peonies

Peonies in modern culture

Peony products?

Challenges in China

Broader economic insights

China’s unofficial national flower is getting Heze noticed, as its cities strive to develop unique calling cards

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.

The Straits Times’ foreign editor Li Xueying and China correspondent Joyce Lim take us to Heze, a city in Shandong province, where peonies aren't just admired by tourists - they drive a multi-billion yuan industry.

Long revered for their cultural significance, peonies now powers a thriving local economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and carrying unexpected political symbolism, including ties to First Lady Peng Liyuan.

What can a single city alone reveal about the China’s deeper economic challenges - from changing consumer behaviour to rising youth unemployment and growing regional divides?

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:28 The cultural significance of peonies in China

4:04 Peonies in modern Chinese culture

5:42 Toothpaste, cooking oil and TCM - how peony is made into 260 products

13:33 Challenges and strategies for cities in China

17:43 Conclusion and broader economic insights

Read Joyce Lim’s article here: https://str.sg/LcLs 

Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR 

Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x  

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters 

Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) 

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX 

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB 

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

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#STAsianInsider

China&rsquo;s unofficial national flower is getting Heze noticed, as its cities strive to develop unique calling cards
Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.
The Straits Times&rsquo; foreign editor Li Xueying and China correspondent Joyce Lim take us to Heze, a city in Shandong province, where peonies aren't just admired by tourists - they drive a multi-billion yuan industry.
Long revered for their cultural significance, peonies now powers a thriving local economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and carrying unexpected political symbolism, including ties to First Lady Peng Liyuan.
What can a single city alone reveal about the China&rsquo;s deeper economic challenges - from changing consumer behaviour to rising youth unemployment and growing regional divides?
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:28 The cultural significance of peonies in China
4:04 Peonies in modern Chinese culture
5:42 Toothpaste, cooking oil and TCM - how peony is made into 260 products
13:33 Challenges and strategies for cities in China
17:43 Conclusion and broader economic insights
Read Joyce Lim&rsquo;s article here: <a href="https://str.sg/LcLs">https://str.sg/LcLs</a>&nbsp;
Read Li Xueying&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iqmR">https://str.sg/iqmR</a>&nbsp;
Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/ip4x">https://str.sg/ip4x</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters">https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>&nbsp;
Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg)&nbsp;
Edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">&nbsp;https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa8">&nbsp;https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaX">&nbsp;https://str.sg/JWaX</a>&nbsp;
Feedback to:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">&nbsp;https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
ST Podcasts website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">&nbsp;http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">&nbsp;https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">&nbsp;https://str.sg/icyB</a>&nbsp;
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX">&nbsp;https://str.sg/icyX</a>&nbsp;
---
#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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