The 2012 Chrysanthemum Culture Festival was unveiled at Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on Sept 27 and will last until Oct 10. It attracted tens of thousands of visitors from China and abroad.

A three-dimensional flower bed built in a pattern of a peacock spreading its tail attracted many visitors with its vivid design and bright color.

The chrysanthemum is one of the “Four Gentlemen” of China (the others being the plum blossom, orchid and bamboo). The chrysanthemum is said to have been favored by Tao Qian, an influential Chinese poet, and is symbolic of nobility.