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.

Peonies have been grown for centuries in China, prized for their medicinal properties and ornamental value.

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

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

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Feedback to: [email protected] 

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