Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province.

Hao Guixiang, an 82-year-old visitor, said she has been coming to see the peonies since she was young. In daily life, Hao often comes to the venue to sketch the peonies, searching for inspiration for her next traditional fine brushwork paintings.

Deng Li, a 36-year-old visitor wearing traditional Han garb, visited for the first time. She wore clothes in a style from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to complement the elegant and luxurious temperament of peonies.

Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

"Peonies are living cultural relics, symbolizing wealth, auspiciousness, and prosperity," said Tian Yuchen, the office director of the Shuangta Museum.

Of the more than 8,000 peony trees, the most precious is a tree named Zixiaxian (fairy of purple glow) from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). "It is the country's oldest preserved temple peony, and also the only one from the Ming Dynasty." Tian said.

Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

The museum has embraced digital technology to create online immersive experiences, allowing the public to enjoy the scenery of blooming peonies without stepping out of the door and injecting traditional culture with continuous vitality through inheritance and innovation, the office director said.

The museum has hosted several events themed around Zixiaxian and the temple's cultural legacy, including performances, a folk customs display, an intangible cultural heritage exhibition, peony sketches, and a creative products market.

Li Jialu contributed to this story.

Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn] 

Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn] 

Seven peony trees older than 400 years have become a highlight of the 43rd Taiyuan Shuangta Peony Culture Month, which recently kicked off at the Yongzuo Temple of Shuangta Museum in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]