Concluded int'l horticultural event will start offering free admission

If you missed the recently concluded International Horticultural Exhibition in Chengdu, Sichuan province, you'll have a chance to enjoy the myriad flowers and plants from around the world at no cost.

From now on, admission will be free, though bookings are required, according to Chen Tao, an official overseeing the exhibition.

Visitors like 12-year-old Gao Zixun are very happy to know that they still have an opportunity to enjoy and explore the main event site.

Zixun, a flower and plant enthusiast, could not visit the exhibition due to high temperatures during the summer, but now he plans to make the trip.

"I wanted to visit during the summer break, but the heat kept me away," he said.

Held under the theme "park city, beautiful habitat," the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024, which concluded on Monday, showcased a diverse range of flowers, plants and gardening styles from around the world in 113 gardens, which were set up at the main site in the Chengdu Eastern New Area and in four sub-sites. The total number of gardens this year set a record, according to the organizer.

The 186-day exhibition kicked off on April 26, bringing the beauty and wonder of flowers and plants to more than 10 million people. The main site and its four sub-sites received nearly 1.19 million visitors during the weeklong National Day holiday alone.

Over 110 activities, including themed float parades, light shows and shadow performances, were staged at the five sites, Chen said.

In addition, more than 100 international exchange activities were held, and a list of cooperation opportunities was updated and released often, which led to the growth of more than 55,000 flower gardening business entities in Chengdu. As a result, the output value of flower gardening in the city has exceeded 13 billion yuan ($1.8 billion).

The event's venues will now serve the residents differently. For example, the Jinyun Building will be converted into a museum to showcase the traditional classic gardens in Sichuan, while the main venue will become a cultural and art center.

Leonardo Capitanio, president of the International Association of Horticultural Producers, spoke highly of the event at its opening ceremony, saying the Chengdu exhibition was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Adhering to the philosophy of green and low-carbon environments, economic and sustainable development, and extensive cooperation, the exhibition promoted exchanges among gardens from 32 countries and regions.

Representatives of Chengdu's 19 sister cities and friendly cooperation cities from 18 countries, including the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Mozambique and Austria, shared their experiences in green development and explored how cities from around the world could cooperate in green development and cultural exchanges.

They celebrated the official opening of the Chengdu International Friendship Pavilion, a core building at the main site covering an exhibition area of 2,000 square meters and featuring a permanent exhibition with the theme of international friendship.

Pietro Cannella, vice-mayor of Palermo, Italy, said the friendly exchanges between cities during the exhibition represent a great opportunity for development.

"We see that urban planning can be combined with ecological greening, which is also significant for promoting the concept of sustainable development in Sicily," he said.

Ernst Woller, first president of the provincial parliament of Vienna, Austria, described the exhibition as a great journey through the world, featuring many cultures and garden designs across the globe.

"It is very important for cities to work together and get to know each other as the world still faces many problems and challenges. The Chengdu exhibition is a good example of how cities should work together," he said.