On April 7, the 28^th Shang Lake Peony Fair, Changshu’s first Peony Fair, is officially opened in Jiangnan Red Bean Garden. 

Co-hosted by Changshu Propaganda Department, Radio & TV and Tourist Bureau, Meili town government, Yu-Mount-Shang-Lake Tourism Development Co. LTD, Jiangnan Red Bean Garden,etc, this flower fair is held as Jiangsu’s 28^th peony fair in Changshu venue, Jiangnan Red Bean Garden which is a crucial basis of red bean cultivation and cultural inheritance in Jiangnan region. Featuring the plantation of peony, in this garden there are over 5000 peonies of 4 main varieties as Northwest peony, Southwest peony, Central China peony and Jiangnan peony, of which 2 Northwest peonies are aged over a century, over 100 peonies over half a century, and particularly, a precious Jiangnan peony over 130 years. Through this fair, more citizens would be led to appreciate at a close distance the elegant nobleness of peony and learn its rich cultural connotation by embracing the nature, then discovering the beauty of it, which would ultimately accelerate the local development of tourism and culture. 

In addition, the opening ceremony witnesses the nameplate unveiling of Jiangnan Red Bean Exquisite Peony Garden and Shang Lake Peony Fair in Changshu venue of Jiangsu province, as well as the launching of Chsangshu’s 1^st “Grain Rain Poetry Gathering ”. It is estimated that the fair shall last until May 8, wherein a series of programs would be carried out including calligraphy-painting-photography exchange, intangible cultural heritage and folk handcrafts exhibition, special cymbidium show and specialties fair, etc.