Pingyin rose-growing system earns national heritage status

Pingyin rose-growing in Jinan, Shandong province, has been recognized as a China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage System, honoring a traditional farming system with more than 1,300 years of history.

Originating in the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the system is concentrated in 25 villages in Meigui town, central Pingyin county. Its 11-square-kilometer core conservation area preserves a rich legacy of rose cultivation dating from the late Tang period through the Ming and Qing (1368–1911) dynasties.

The heritage system comprises 14 key elements across nine categories, including germplasm resources, traditional planting areas, terraced fields, farming techniques, processing tools, folk traditions, and historical records.

Its major assets include a 66-mu(4.4-hectare) provincial rose germplasm repository housing 115 varieties from China and abroad, 300muof rose groves with trees more than 50 years old, and 3,800muof traditional cultivation areas along the Yudai River basin dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. More than 120 traditional tools for rose production and processing remain in use.

Known for its distinctive climate, water, and soil conditions, Pingyin is one of the world's three major rose-producing regions. Its double-petaled red rose is valued for both medicinal and culinary uses.

Building on this agricultural heritage, the county has expanded rose production into a broader industry that includes essential oils, fermented tea beverages, snacks, and cosmetics. Rose-themed tourism, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and educational activities have further broadened the sector. In 2025, the Pingyin rose brand was valued at more than 3.4 billion yuan ($509.55 million).

Jinan's Pingyin rose-growing system is recognized as a China Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage System. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Workers sort and process freshly harvested roses. [Photo/Dazhong News]