Xi’an’s Journey in the Bid to host the International Horticultural Exposition and an overview of International Horticultural Exposition

The 59th General Assembly of International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), held September 2007 in Brighton, England, voted unanimously for Xi’an, China to host the 2011 International Horticultural Exposition. This marks the third staging of an international horticultural event in a Chinese city following the expositions in Kunming in 1999 and Shenyang in 2006.

The theme of the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an is “Eternal peace & harmony between nature & mankind, nurturing the future earth - a city for nature, co-existing in peace”. “nurturing the future earth” refers to: on the basis of respecting and protecting nature, allowing nature serve humankind by utilizing and remolding it; presenting “Humanistic Xi’an, Dynamic Xi’an , and Harmonious Xi’an” to the outside world through hosting the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an.

The International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an is sponsored by the State Forestry Administration, P. R. China, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province, and the China Flower Association. It is organized by the Xi’an Municipal People’s Government. The International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an is classified as an A2+B1-level international horticultural exposition. It will last 178 days from April 28th, 2011 to October 22nd, 2011. More than 100 cities and organizations have been invited to participate in the exposition, covering over 30 foreign cities, 40 domestic cities and more than 30 international bodies in the horticultural industry. The number of visitors is expected to reach over 12 million.

The International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an will be held in the Chan-Ba Ecological District, Xi’an, a district covering an area of 265 hectares. It will showcase a unique horticultural event complete with an integrated horticultural exhibition, exhibition activities, culture and entertainment, Creativity Park and other miscellaneous services. The exposition will unveil the perfect combination of water, green areas and flowers.

The International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an features will divide the tourist areas into the Nature, People and Chang’an Island, the Nature & Creativity Island, the Silk Road Island, the Flower Island, the Future Island, the International Horticultural Exposition Island, the Adventure Island, and the LOHAS Island (LOHAS represents “lifestyles of health and sustainability”). Seven major characteristic horticultural parks will be constructed including: the Cultural Landscape and Poetry Chang’an Park, reflecting the historical and cultural characteristics of Xi’an; the Qinling Park, showcasing the ecological environment and flora and fauna characteristic of the Shaanxi Province including the four Qinling treasures of takin, giant panda, golden monkey, and Nipponia Nippon; the Aerospace Sci-tech Park, presenting the latest achievements in aerospace and agriculture science and technology that Shaanxi Province and Xi’an have made; the Willow Park, reflecting the regional characteristics of the Xi’an International Horticultural Exposition and the Chan-Ba Ecological District; the Natural Sound Courtyard Park, showing the architectural styles of Chinese ancient gardens; the Silk Road Park revealing the exotic nature of locales along the ancient Silk Road; and the Herb Park, demonstrating rare plants and herbs. Additionally, a utopian eco-technology model building with zero emissions and zero energy consumption will be constructed at the site to embody the “Green, Ecology, and Environmental” theme of the Xi’an International Horticultural Exposition.

A widespread global effort for gathering the public’s ideas on the emblem, anthem, and mascot of the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an has been launched and is currently in full swing. The overall strategic plan has been completed while the project and design bids are in preliminary stages. At the same time, the infrastructure construction inside and near the exposition zone is being actively pushed forward.

The International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an extends a warm welcome for ideas, suggestions and participation from our friends from all over the world.