Gardening expo hopes to benefit from future rewards

Seven years ago Jiang Zehui thought that winning the right to host the world's largest horticultural expo in Yanqing, Beijing, would not be a smooth sailing.

The chairwoman of the China Flower Association was concerned there was much going against Yanqing district, famous mainly for the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

With an average elevation 500 meters higher than central Beijing, the temperature is also 5 degrees lower than downtown Beijing throughout the year.

"Compared with other regions in the capital, the traffic and weather conditions of Yanqing are not the best," said Jiang, who is also deputy director of the expo's organizing committee. "I was a bit worried whether Yanqing could represent Beijing to bid for the expo in 2012."

Jiang says it was a long and arduous process to prepare for the bid, with the district improving its horticultural industry and ecological environment.

Greenhouses covering an area of 132 hectares were established to guarantee plant cultivation and maintenance.

Since 2012, a total of 10,667 hectares of forest have been planted in the district, with 667 hectares of trees established around the expo park, said Yu Bo, the district chief.

But in the end persistence paid off. After opening on April 29, the Beijing International Horticultural Expo's first month has been an unqualified success with 1.54 million visitors. "The expo so far has attracted the largest number of countries to participate, a landmark record in the horticultural exhibition's history, along with its high standard," Jiang said.

It's also hoped the expo will reap long-term benefits for Yanqing in related industries.

Since 2017, the district has developed its horticulture industry by importing more than 30 registered floriculture companies from Zhongguancun, the tech hub in the capital's Haidian district, and has established a horticultural business district near the expo park.

Nearly 60 million flowers and plants of 1,603 species have been cultivated in the business district, said Wang Shuqin, deputy director of the Zhongguancun Yanqing Science Park. Seedlings and flowers grown there are delivered to the exhibition park on a regular basis.

So far, more than 300 species of plants in 3 million pots have been supplied to the expo.

"To host such a big event is a great opportunity for Yanqing. The district has seen huge improvements in all aspects, including infrastructure and public services," district chief Yu said.

In preparation for the expo, Yanqing built 13 roads that stretch 54 kilometers in and outside of the region to connect the expo park with neighboring cities. The Yanqing-Chongli Expressway opened at the beginning of this year and the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-speed Railway is expected to go into operation soon.

Jiang expects the expo to further boost the horticulture industry in China. "I hope it can draw more people to embrace the green lifestyle, as the economic development has already made it possible."

The expo runs until Oct 7.