154-year-old peony in Xiaolou Lane, Wuxi, blooms 72 flowers in one go, once featured in a documentary

There is a 154-year-old peony that astonishingly bloomed 72 flowers this year, setting a new blooming record. Even the British BBC made a documentary about it. It grows in Xiaolou Lane, Wuxi!

154-year-old peony, a living historical fossil

Growing Flowers Encyclopedia

In downtown Wuxi, with its forest of high-rises and bustling crowds, it is hard to imagine that a Xiaolou Lane with more than 900 years of history is hidden here. To see the century-old peony, you must first pass through this narrow alley.

This alley is very narrow and deep, called a beinong. Walking along it, you feel it takes a long time to reach the end. In some places, even sunlight cannot shine in, just like a tunnel of time.

After walking through the long Xiaolou Lane, winding this way and that, although eager to see the peony, you still do not want to miss the scenery along the way.

Passing old houses covered with dark tiles, one cannot help but feel deep respect. This is an alley with more than 900 years of history, after all, houses once lived in by ancients, roads once walked by them.

Walking to Fushou Hall, you are very close to the 154-year-old peony. The furnishings inside Fushou Hall are very simple and antique.

The plaque hanging in Fushou Hall is said to have been written by Zhang Zongyi of the Qing Dynasty. The paper has long turned yellow, like an elderly person quietly telling history.

Finally, in the garden on the west side of Fushou Hall, you see the century-old peony. It was planted by Qin Huan, a xiucai of the Qing Dynasty, and is a peony with a story. This year it astonishingly bloomed 72 flowers, delighting the people of Wuxi and once again breaking the record of 52 flowers in 2011.

In the early years of the Tongzhi reign, Wuxi was occupied by the Taiping Army. Qin Huan went to Kaifeng, Henan, to take refuge. In the second year of Tongzhi, the Qing Dynasty retook Wuxi. When Qin Huan returned to Wuxi from Kaifeng, a friend gave him a peony.

It has endured a hundred years of wind and rain, survived the catastrophe of the Cultural Revolution, and several generations have carefully tended this peony, which has grown more and more vigorous!

The four large characters on the wall, "Family Treasure, National Glory", were inscribed by Song Yuanlian, former education minister of the Qing Dynasty, meaning that the peony is the Qin family's heirloom, while the Qin family members are the pillars and essence of the nation!

The peony grows so vigorously and healthily, which is inseparable from the careful care of generations of the Qin family. The peony and the Qin family already have deep feelings for each other, as if only by blooming the most beautiful flowers can it repay their care!

The peony understands human nature, and the Qin family also understands the peony's temperament. The fourth-generation daughter-in-law of the Qin family is already 86 years old. People call her Grandma Yu. Grandma says the peony only likes meaty foods, one is pig offal, the other is fish offal. After composting them thoroughly and burying them at the roots, the peony will surely bloom incomparably brightly.

Children also like to come to Fushou Hall and draw the countless forms of this century-old peony on paper.

This peony has witnessed a hundred years of historical changes in Xiaolou Lane. It is a second-class ancient tree of Wuxi and a living historical fossil.

This peony even astonished foreigners! In 2014, the British BBC sent dedicated staff to make a documentary about this peony, and they praised it endlessly!

The 154-year-old peony has a soul. It breathes together with generations of Wuxi people and silently wishes people happiness and a fulfilling life.

The Qin family's heirloom is not gold, silver or jewels,

but a peony planted 154 years ago,

though it has weathered many hardships,

its blossoms still astonish the world,

Huahua hopes this peony can live forever,

and continue to pass on the stories of our generation!