The opening ceremony of the Hong Kong SAR Promotion Centre for Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County, Heze City, Shandong Province, now established within the Yew Chung Yew Wah (YCYW) Education Network in Hong Kong SAR of the Greater Bay Area, was held on 21 May at Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong. The event was jointly organised by the Peony Industry Development Working Committee of the China Council For the Promotion of Environment and Forestry, and the YCYW Education Network. The organisers received great support from the Shandong Heze Municipal People's Government, the Shandong Juye County People's Government, the Hong Kong Basic Law Foundation, and the Hong Kong Chinese Culture Development Association. The goals of the Centre are to promote Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County, preserve the essence of traditional Chinese culture, and foster multicultural development and integration.

Distinguished guests attending the event included: Professor Paul Yip Kwok-wah, Chairman of the Board of B & P Culture Education Technology Group; Dr Betty Chan Po-king, Vice Chairman of B & P Group, and CEO and School Supervisor of YCYW Education Network; Mr Nie Yuanke, Deputy Secretary of the Heze Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China; Mr Zhang Peng, Deputy Mayor of Heze Municipal People's Government; Ms Guo Hui, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of Heze and Director of the Heze, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; Ms Yin Huiping, Director of the Heze Bureau of Commerce; and Ms Qu Hui, President of the Peony Industry Development Working Committee, Principal Coordinator of Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County in the Greater Bay Area, and Project Commercialisation Lead.

In her address, Ms Qu Hui noted: "Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County has a long historical heritage. This type of painting has been exhibited at major national events, and used for state gifts during China's cultural exchanges with the world. In the current context of China’s modernisation and the development of new productive forces, peonies have new cultural connotations. They symbolise a harmonious and prosperous nation, and represent the Chinese spirit of continuous progress shared by all ethnic groups of China." Ms Qu called for collective efforts to preserve Chinese peony culture, "Let Chinese peonies gain global recognition so that the world can love Chinese peonies!"

In his speech, Party Secretary Nie Yuanke described Heze as the "Peony Capital of China," and described the city's cultural "going out" strategies. Recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of Shangdong Province, Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County was showcased at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the Shanghai World Expo. These events thus promoted the international dissemination of Heze's peony culture. The establishment of the Hong Kong SAR Promotion Centre will help this traditional cultural art form reach the world. Using peonies as the medium, and leveraging Hong Kong SAR's advantages as a window for China’s foreign cultural and artistic exchanges with the world, the Centre will explore new paths for the international dissemination of traditional Chinese culture. These efforts will develop a new process and model for Chinese cultural brands to go global.

Dr Esther Chan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (K-12 Education) of YCYW Education Network, expressed gratitude for introducing the culture of Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County to the YCYW campuses and bringing peony industry science to Hong Kong SAR. Dr Chan said: "YCYW will develop more diversified types of cooperation with Juye County, Heze City, including the expansion of our art curriculum, teacher and student exchanges, and international performances. This will enable peony art to blossom in a broader environment." She also emphasised that the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR Promotion Centre exemplifies the integration of culture and education. In the future, YCYW will work together with the Hong Kong Chinese Culture Development Association to implement promotional efforts in Hong Kong SAR, thereby elevating the inheritance and innovation of Gongbi Peony Painting culture to new heights.

Ms Yolanda Ng, Member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board, and Member of the Hong Kong Palace Museum Board, offered congratulations for the establishment of the Promotion Centre. She also expressed her admiration for Juye County's use of artistic brushwork to depict new visions of rural revitalisation. She emphasised that Hong Kong SAR is a centre for Asian art and a hub in the international cultural landscape. Hong Kong SAR can thus leverage its role as a "super-connector". From international summits to local school exhibitions, Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County will begin a new chapter in Hong Kong SAR. She looks forward to the win-win cooperation between Hong Kong SAR and Heze City, as they relate China's story through peony flowers.

During the Unveiling Ceremony, the distinguished guests jointly unveiled the “China Peony Capital Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County—Promotion Centre in Hong Kong SAR of Greater Bay Area (YCYW Education Network)”, marking the official establishment of the Promotion Centre in Hong Kong SAR. The guests also officiated at a ceremony recognising YCYW 's special relationship with the Gongbi Peony Painting Industry Academy of Juye, Shangdong, and designating YCYW schools as places to learn Gongbi Peony Painting. The Unveiling Ceremony symbolised the joint efforts of Hong Kong SAR and Shandong Province to create a promising future together.

At the event, the guests enjoyed a series of captivating short films that conveyed the historical context and industrial value of peony art. In addition, students from the Chinese Orchestra of Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong performed a modern Chinese interpretation of the classic "Lan Ting Xu". The piece beautifully blended the thousand-year-old ink heritage with contemporary melodies and showcased the brilliance of traditional art in the new era.

After the ceremony, the guests toured the Peony Painting Exhibition, appreciating the unique charm of the Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County. These artworks not only displayed the beauty of peonies, but also showcased the grandeur of traditional Chinese culture.

The successful hosting of this Unveiling Ceremony and the Peony Painting Exhibition provided a rich cultural experience for Hong Kong SAR and created a bridge for Gongbi Peony Painting from Juye County to reach the international stage. The YCYW Education Network will continue to work with various parties to promote the exchange and integration of diverse cultures, so that traditional Chinese culture can shine more brilliantly in the new era.

The Peony Industry Development Working Committee of the China Forestry and Environment Promotion Association was jointly established by the State Forestry Administration, the State Environmental Protection Administration, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to promote sustainable national economic development. The YCYW Education Network, the pioneer of international education in the region, developed from Yew Chung International School, founded in Hong Kong, China, in 1932. Dedicated to promoting the integration and innovation of diverse cultures, YCYW has consistently upheld its mission to align with Science and Technology, Culture and Arts, and Love and Charity.