Heze’s Peony Dough Art Blooms in Los Angeles!

Heze’s Peony Dough Art Blooms in Los Angeles!

🌸 Have you ever seen a flower made of dough? In Los Angeles, an amazing artist named Shi Zhenshan is creating beautiful peony flowers from dough! Let’s find out more about his incredible work and how he’s sharing Chinese culture with the world.

The Peony: China’s Precious Flower

In China, the peony is called the “king of flowers.” It’s a symbol of wealth and honor, and people love it for its big, colorful petals. Every year, in Heze City, east China’s Shandong Province, there is a huge festival to celebrate peonies. This year, the 2025 World Peony Conference and the 34th Heze International Peony Culture and Tourism Festival just opened! 🌺

Meet the Dough Master: Shi Zhenshan

Mr. Shi is originally from Heze, known as China’s peony capital. When he was just 8 years old, he started learning how to make figures out of dough from his father. Over the past 60 years, he has become a master of this ancient craft. He has even been named a “folk arts and crafts master” by UNESCO! 🏆

Bringing Peony Art to America

In 2006, Mr. Shi moved to Los Angeles. There, he began sharing his special dough art with people in the United States. He combines his skill of dough sculpture with the beauty of Heze’s peonies to make stunning creations. 🥟➡️🌸

“Americans love peonies,” Mr. Shi says. By showing them his art and telling Chinese stories, more and more people are learning about the peony’s meaning as a symbol of wealth and honor.

A Flower That Connects Cultures

The peony isn’t just a flower in China; it’s a bridge between different countries! Artists from all over the world appreciate its beauty. Through festivals and sharing art like Mr. Shi’s, the peony helps people from different places connect and understand each other’s cultures better. 🌍❤️

Isn’t it amazing how a simple flower and some dough can bring people together? Maybe next time you see a peony or a piece of art, you’ll think about the stories and traditions it carries!

Reference(s):

Peonies across cultures: Heze peony dough blooms in Los Angeles

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