On March 30, the General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Baishan Town in Beijing's Changping District to participate in the capital's voluntary tree-planting event，joined by local officials and residents. This marks the 14th consecutive year since 2013 that the General Secretary has led by example and personally taken part in tree planting. 

At the planting site, the Beijing peony planted by the General Secretary was "Jinghong," a superior new variety independently developed over more than two decades by Professor Cheng Fangyun's research team at Beijing Forestry University (BFU). 

The "Jinghong" peony boasts robust growth, reaching up to 2 meters in height. With exceptional cold and drought tolerance as well as strong ecological adaptability, it is well-suited for cultivation in parks and understory environments. This variety features purplish-red, lotus-form, upright flowers with a delicate fragrance. It has a moderate blooming period and a high seed-setting rate, offering both ornamental value and potential for oil production. In Beijing's plains, it reaches full bloom in mid-to-late April, while in mountainous regions, the blooming period can extend into early May. 

Professor Cheng Fangyun's team has devoted 40 years to peony breeding. With support from the National "863" Program, National Key R&D Programs, and Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Projects, the team has developed over 200 new varieties under the "Beijing Peony" series. Among these, 40 have been granted Plant Variety Rights. In March 2025, nine new Beijing peony varieties，including "Jinghong"，passed Beijing's fine variety certification. These varieties are now widely cultivated across Beijing, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi, serving as a "green calling card" that supports regional ecological development and rural revitalization. 

Furthermore, the peony varieties bred by BFU have been exported to Europe, the United States, Japan, and Russia, acting as vital mediums for sharing the story of the Chinese peony and disseminating excellent traditional Chinese culture. 

A single peony serves as a powerful symbol of our enduring commitment to green development. The "Jinghong" planted by the General Secretary Xi Jinping will inspire the entire BFU community to actively contribute to the construction of the ecological civilization, offering BFU's wisdom and strength to help realize a Beautiful China. 

Written by Zhang Lei
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang