By outdoor-nature-child.com During a recent visit to the main venue of the 2024 Chengdu World Horticultural Expo, international student Ted from the UK shared his experiences. He expressed, “I’ve seen gardens from many countries here and learned about the culture of various provinces in China. Visiting the Chengdu World Horticultural Expo is a fantastic opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of both China and the world.”
Since its opening on April 26, the Chengdu World Horticultural Expo has showcased over 1,000 exhibitions, floral displays, horticultural competitions, and cultural activities, effectively creating a bridge for cultural exchange. Dubbed the “Olympics of Horticulture,” this event features a diverse range of garden styles from across the globe, including Chinese, British, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian gardens. It has set new records in terms of total exhibitions, international showcases, and displays by associations and enterprises in the history of Class B horticultural expos.
During the recent National Day holiday, the expo revitalized the “holiday economy” with more than 110 multicultural activities. Highlights included the 2024 AOF International Floral Arts Masters Exhibition, themed flower parades, hide-and-seek games, and light shows spanning 14 different scenes at the main venue, drawing in a significant number of visitors. In just the first three days of the holiday, the venue welcomed 190,000 guests.
Hu Mei, a floral artist from Chengdu and a frequent attendee of the expo, shared her enthusiasm, saying, “It’s incredibly convenient to see the works of international floral art masters right here. It has been truly inspiring for me.” She particularly focused on the AOF International Floral Arts Masters Exhibition led by instructors from the AOF Academy, reflecting on how floral art can transform lifestyles by promoting aesthetic beauty and green, low-carbon living.
At the Wenjiang branch of the expo, a bonsai competition displayed numerous artworks during the holiday, enchanting many visitors with the artistry and poetic nature of bonsai. The event attracted 348 entries from over 20 countries and regions, including China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Hu Shixun, a keeper of Sichuan’s intangible cultural heritage and a national master of Sichuan-style bonsai, commented on the rich historical ties between bonsai traditions in Japan and Korea, both of which have roots in Chinese bonsai. He noted, “The Wenjiang branch, themed around Sichuan-style bonsai, attracted various bonsai artists from different countries. Even without a common language, we can communicate through our art.”
Zhu Mingchuan, secretary-general of the Chengdu Flower Association’s Wenjiang District, highlighted the expo’s role in bolstering the local floriculture and nursery industry. He stated, “The expo presents Chengdu’s beautiful floral culture to the nation and the world, honoring the heritage of ‘Western Sichuan Gardens’ while showcasing Chengdu’s rich cultural history. It’s taking our floriculture industry to new heights.”
In addition to facilitating horticultural exchanges, the Chengdu World Horticultural Expo promotes a global “green and low-carbon” philosophy. Huang Cong, the chief planner at the main venue, mentioned, “Since the expo opened, international visitors have shown significant interest in our ‘green and low-carbon’ initiatives.” He elaborated that the expo includes features like plant carbon sinks, renewable energy, green transportation, and sustainable building practices to create a “low-carbon expo.” After the event, all landscaped areas will be repurposed into parks, and the buildings will be converted into public service structures or incubation centers for various industries.
Peng Hongming, deputy director of the Chengdu World Horticultural Expo Organizing Committee Office and deputy secretary-general of the China Flower Association, emphasized the event’s success in showcasing horticultural technology, enhancing cultural exchange, driving technological innovation, and advocating for sustainable development principles. He remarked, “The Chengdu World Horticultural Expo beautifully merges green concepts with horticultural art, presenting the world with a stunning blend of horticulture, culture, nature, and technology.”