The opening ceremony of a rose culture festival in Nanyang, 2013. The festival has been annually held in the city since 2010.

Nanyang has a 2,000-year history of rose cultivation and its continuous development in the field has left a deep impression on its local identity.

According to historical records, a Royal living in Nanyang began to grow roses in his courtyard during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). The pretty and distinctive flowers could be found flourishing in ordinary people's gardens by the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279), and were widely planted in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). In its long history of rose cultivation and breeding, Nanyang has not only preserved many ancient rose varieties, but also formed its own unique style consisting of a big size, colorful petals, and sturdy stem.

The opening of Nanyang's annual rose expo in 2014. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The city plays a decisive role in the Chinese rose family. In 1995, the rose was approved as the official flower of the city, and in 2000, Nanyang was named "China's Rose Town" by the State Forestry Administration and China Flower Association. In recent years, Nanyang is striving to become an international city known for roses and is implementing an action plan to beautify the city with the flowers.

More than 10 million roses have been planted in the city along 20 avenues, in nine rose gardens, 20 communities, 60 courtyards and across more than 10 parks. Roses can be found everywhere all year around in Nanyang.

The unveiling of a rose-themed stamps in 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The rose chapter of the China Flower Association has hosted rose expos and festivals in the city since 2010. High-level forums, flower arrangement contests, selections of planting masters, stamp issuance photography competitions and exhibitions have attracted visitors and businesspeople worldwide.

The annual rose expo has become a grand gathering for planters, traders and companies and provides enterprises and individuals all over the world with an opportunity to share new technologies and applications in breeding, cultivation, and landscaping.

The launching of a rose-themed photography competition in 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Friends bond beneath the rose bushes. [Photo by Lu Qian]