What is the Flower of Beijing
As a cultural symbol of the national capital of China, Beijing's city flowers, the Chinese rose and chrysanthemum, embody the spiritual temperament of a millennium-old ancient capital. These two traditional famous flowers not only decorate the urban landscape with their unique ornamental value but also become an important part of Beijing's city image with their profound cultural connotation.
Historical Origin and Cultural Heritage of Beijing's City Flower
Meaning of Chinese Rose and Its Connection with the Capital
The Chinese rose, established as the city flower in 1987, corresponds to Beijing's inclusive and tolerant urban spirit with its characteristic of blooming throughout the four seasons. From the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City to modern street绿化带 (green belts), more than 800 varieties of Chinese roses constitute an ecological landscape of "blooming flowers every month." Its cultivation history can be traced back to the Liao Dynasty, and after being cultivated in the courts of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it has formed a unique Beijing Chinese rose system.
Character of Chrysanthemum and Spirit of the Ancient Capital
The chrysanthemum, known as the "hermit in flowers," has been connected with Beijing since the Jin Dynasty. The chrysanthemum exhibition in Beihai Park has a history of 700 years, displaying over 100,000 pots of chrysanthemums every year. Its characteristic of blooming in frost symbolizes the indomitable spirit of Beijing people, and the artistic conception of Tao Yuanming's "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence" is perfectly presented in royal gardens such as the Summer Palace.
Symbols of City Flowers and Urban Spirit
Emotional Resonance of Chinese Rose
The Chinese rose, known as the "messenger of love," has formed a unique culture of courtship at the Lover's Wall in TianTan Park. Red Chinese roses symbolize passionate love, pink ones represent the beauty of first love, and white ones convey pure friendship. Modern horticulture has bred special varieties such as "YanJing Hong" and "Great Wall Jin" that are adaptable to Beijing's climate.
Cultural Metaphor of Chrysanthemum
The art of chrysanthemum shaping permeates various fields of Jingpai culture: chrysanthemum patterns in cloisonné, chrysanthemum decorations in SiHeYuan brick carvings, and chrysanthemum tea art in LaoShe Teahouse. The custom of enjoying chrysanthemums during the Double Ninth Festival has been included in the intangible cultural heritage list of Beijing, and the Botanical Garden hosts an international chrysanthemum festival every year, showcasing cultivation skills through 17 shaping techniques such as cliff chrysanthemums and pagoda chrysanthemums.