International horticulture expo attracts worldwide green fingers to Chengdu
THE International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 — which opened in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, last week — offers a comprehensive and on-site “101 handbook” for gardening devotees worldwide, with a kaleidoscope of horticultural technologies and garden arts from home and abroad showcased at the event. According to Zhou Jun, deputy head of Chengdu’s park city construction management bureau, this year’s edition has built 39 international gardens, covering the world’s major styles of British, French, Japanese, Italian, Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian garden design. The numbers of gardens on display, foreign gardens and those undertaken by industrial associations and companies have all surpassed previous records of the expo. Zhou added that the expo’s major underlying value will be the exchanges and mutual learning as it presents new plant varieties, gardening products and technologies, and novel garden design ideas. Global urban gardening fad Chengdu has a rich history that spans over two millennia. Its unique natural geography provides the lush urban environment with greenery all year round and diverse blooming flowers in each season, which has long been hailed by poets and writers since ancient times. The expo’s gardens are on display until October 28, highlighting the captivating cultural essence of Sichuan, the Eastern philosophy of residential living, as well as diverse international gardening esthetics. Apart from foreign exhibitors, the event also invites multiple Chinese cities to demonstrate their own architectural and gardening features. The Beijing Garden follows the layout of its ancient imperial gardens, while the Shanghai Garden showcases the city’s fragrant flora. Visitors can be immersed in a verdant canvas of trees and grass, experiencing the century-old beauty of the Chinese seashore stack bridges, the northwest landscapes along the Yellow River and the delicate elegance of southern residential houses all at once. The burgeoning urban gardening heat in China has inspired growing communication and cooperation between different Chinese regions and attracted worldwide gardeners. Qiu Yamin, a promotion ambassador of the Chengdu horticultural expo, has her own botanical garden of more than 3,000 square meters, with more than 2,000 kinds of plants inside. “I hope to further promote home gardening via the expo by visiting ordinary households and doing livestreaming shows to tell the stories of flower growers,” Qiu said. “At the same time, I will also take this opportunity to learn and exchange with international counterparts and spread our Chinese horticultural concepts to the whole world.” The 46-year-old Canadian garden lover Chad Sinclair has been studying Sichuan’s characteristic penjing, the ancient Chinese art of shaping trees and depicting landscapes in miniature, in Chongzhou City for about two decades. He has learned about traditional Chinese paintings, tea culture and the like to enrich his penjing content. Currently, Sinclair has made more than 500 pieces of penjing art, each pictured and shared with global netizens via social media platforms. “I really want to push the doors open and get people to come over here and appreciate the Sichuan-style penjing, the local culture including the magical face change in Sichuan Opera, spicy food, and giant pandas,” said Sinclair, explaining his initial intention of becoming the expo’s promotion ambassador. ZION Holding Co, headquartered in Moscow, Russia, has created a “space garden” at the expo’s sub-venue in Pidu District. The garden showcases the technology of growing plants in space to spark the public’s imagination of the development of high-tech floral planting. “China’s horticultural market is the fastest growing market in the world with great potential,” said Igor Melnikov, CEO of ZION Holding. “With the increasing number of flower gardening enthusiasts in Chinese families and their growing interest in high-quality home life, I believe that China’s horticultural economy will develop better and better,” he said. Eco benefits in tandem In recent years, there has been a surge in demand among urban residents for closer contact with Mother Nature, leading to a global urban gardening fever. Growing flowers and even vegetables at home is not only an effective way to improve one’s quality of life in the concrete jungle and find happiness in fast-paced modern living but also a significant economic opportunity that can contribute to rural revitalization and ecological development. As tourists walk through the woods, tiny fireflies can be found flickering all around at night, creating a breathtaking sight in Tiantai Mountain, Qionglai City administered by Chengdu. This year’s expo sets a sub-venue in Qionglai, home to a renowned firefly sightseeing base. “The increasing popularity of gardening among the urbanites raises their awareness to protect the environment and preserve the local ecosystem in Sichuan, thus fueling the development of the rural tourism sector,” said Wang Shuai, deputy head of Tiantai Mountain scenic area’s management bureau. Every April to November is the best period to view the lively creatures in Tiantai Mountain. Fireflies are a typical ecological environment indicator species with high demands in their habitats, said Liu Qiang, a staff member of the Tiantai Mountain scenic area. “Thanks to the fresh air, clean water and dense forest of Tiantai Mountain, more than 20 species of fireflies can be spotted here,” Liu added. Many local villagers have run their own homestay businesses thanks to the influx of tourists. “Last year alone, we received nearly 2,000 people in a mere month during the peak season, and this year we have cleaned 16 rooms ahead of schedule, poised to welcome the guests,” said Wang Xinghai, a 65-year-old local resident in Tiantaishan Township of Qionglai. At a time when the world is facing climate change and other challenges, the International Association of Horticultural Producers believes that modern cities should strive to be greener and integrate more plants into the living scenarios of their residents, said Tim Briercliffe, secretary-general of the association. The International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu is expected to make more citizens feel the beauty of nature and hold the common belief that the solution to future crises lies in plants and nature, Briercliffe noted. “They will go home with some ideas of how they can have a plant in their home and in the bit of place they have. You don’t need a lot of space to be able to start or enjoy architecture and the use of plants,” he said, adding that necessary knowledge can be obtained from the expo and further applied at home. Through the garden demonstration of the event, people can learn to change their lifestyle and thus enhance the interlink between vegetation and urban landscape in modern life, according to Briercliffe.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 4 May 2024 | 4:00 am
Youth the target as Sanya aims to be international tourist destination
A group of young foreign tourists went on a fantastic journey to Sanya, a popular coastal destination in south China’s Hainan Province. The exhilarated youngsters were fascinated by the picturesque scenery, vibrant local culture, eco-friendly traveling environment and the delectable culinary delights that Sanya has to offer. They appreciated the city’s breathtaking beauty and experienced its splendid culture as part of the program “Travel The World, Stay In Sanya,” hosted by the Sanya Tourism Board and co-hosted by Shanghai Daily from September 8 to 10. Sanya’s development has been put on the fast track under the master plan to build Hainan Island into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century. The Sanya Tourism Board has also been making efforts to attract a younger demographic, resulting in the growing popularity of the tourist paradise amongst the younger generation. In the first half of 2023, the tropical city reaped an overnight tourism revenue of 47.53 billion yuan (US$6.5 billion), posting a significant annual increase of 80.5 percent. Of the total revenue, 47.283 billion yuan was generated domestically, representing an 80.54 percent year-on-year gain; overseas overnight travelers spent US$35.579 million, up 59.62 percent from a year earlier. Sanya, as one of the most popular domestic travel destinations for Chinese tourists, has become a trend-setting destination with the construction of a free trade port, the benefits of tax-free policies, continuous improvement of infrastructure, and various theme activities hosted by the tourism board. According to the Sanya Tourism Big Data Platform, young travelers aged between 18 and 35 accounted for 37.2 percent of the total inbound passengers at Sanya Airport in 2022 – the highest percentage among all age groups. The trend of younger travelers in the Sanya tourism market has become more pronounced this year. In May, the contribution of travel spending by Generation Z accounted for 38.1 percent of the total, ranking first among all age groups. Albert Yip, director general of the Sanya Tourism Board, stated that the board will continue to leverage the advantages of Internet platforms, big data, and high traffic to help develop Sanya into a younger and more international city, as well as an international tourist destination. In response to market changes, the board has launched a series of unique events, such as the Strawberry Music Festival, Good Travel Festival, Sanya Coffee Festival, and the “Youth Wonderland” Sanya City Walk, aimed at attracting young tourists and unlocking the full potential of the city’s tourism market. In a bid to continuously enhance Sanya’s international image and attract more international tourists, the tourism board has made best use of the 59 countries’ visa-free policy within the free trade port, and implemented various measures such as expanding international air routes, organizing overseas promotion events, and attracting more international sporting event IPs, which have already shown initial results. This year, Sanya not only resumed air routes to China’s Hong Kong, and international destinations such as Seoul, Jakarta, Hanoi, Almaty, but also the cruise route between Hong Kong and Sanya. Tourism promotion events were held in Russia and South Korea, and it has also introduced many international sports events such as the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) golf tournament. In order to deepen its image as a youthful and international city, Sanya has launched the “Visit Sanya At Ease” platform which includes a pre-payment compensation mechanism, to ensure that tourists can enjoy a safer and more reliable travel experience in the city. The rapid development of tourism in Sanya is just a microcosm of its continuous development. The city is being built as an international tourism destination and a high-tech innovative hub in the context of the Hainan Free Trade Port, and it has achieved fruitful results. Sanya has not only attracted tourists from home and abroad, but also many foreign young professionals who have chosen to work and live in the city. Sanya’s sound and international business environment has enticed numerous foreign investors, including Ulrich Akos from Hungary. Akos relocated to Sanya two years ago, and will open Dinner In The Sky, an international-brand restaurant , at Haitang Bay in October. “I really like the climate of Sanya. It is China’s No. 1 tropical destination,” Akos said. He gave a thumbs-up to Sanya’s business environment. “The number of foreign investment and foreigners visiting the city is growing. The local government is supportive,” Akos noted. “I would encourage my partners and friends to come here, invest, and build new projects because I think it is a perfect place for this.” Russian Anastasiia Korytova has been working as an event planning manager for more than three years. “Sanya’s climate is very pleasant. It has one of the highest air quality ratings in China, which I greatly appreciate. And we have a wide range of flora and fauna,” said Anastasiia. Obtaining a work permit and visa is extremely simple, she pointed out. “I believe Sanya is a truly ideal place to live and work because of its excellent environmental conditions and attractive policies.” The Sanya Tourism Board said the event was not just a trip, but also a brand-new try-out of its marketing campaign, with the voice of young tourists from around the world heard to promote the international tourist resort and tourist-friendly city globally. Albert, the director general, said that the board hopes to act as a bridge between the city and the international community. “We welcome friends from all over the world to come to Sanya for tourism, investment, and entrepreneurship, to stay in Sanya and to build Hainan’s free trade port together,” Albert stated.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 10 Oct 2023 | 6:04 am
Zhang, Wu: Rivals yet partners
CHINA’S top-two ranked male tennis players Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing will partner each other for the first time. The duo is paired in the doubles competition at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Shanghai native Zhang is 60th in the ATP rankings, while 98th-ranked Wu hails from Hangzhou, where he has received overwhelming support from his hometown folks over the past two days since the Games officially kicked off. At Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Center, they eased past Chinese Taipei pair Ho Chenjui and Wu Tung-Lin 6-3, 6-0 in the first round on Sunday, and defeated the Qatari duo Alharrasi Mubarak and Naif Mashari 6-3, 6-4 in the second round yesterday. “After yesterday’s match and today’s singles, I feel more relaxed,” said Zhang. “I found form a bit late today, thankfully he (Wu) was leading the pace.” “We’re used to playing singles, and we don’t have a lot of time to practice doubles,” Wu noted. “So we’ve done our best with very limited time. “I think doubles involves taking more responsibility. It’s not only about yourself, you have to talk to each other, get to know what you’re going to do in each situation.” As a Hangzhou native, Wu’s home advantage is incomparable, with family, friends and relatives attending his matches. “Not only my parents, but my cousins, my parents’ cousins, and my best friend, they all came to watch me play,” he pointed out. “With them beside me, I can really release myself.” As China’s top professional players, Wu and Zhang have spent most of their time travelling around the world for competitions over the past two years. “It’s been a long time since the last time my father watched me play,” said Wu, who was in tears when greeting his relatives after their doubles victory on Sunday. Wu secured his first ATP Tour title in Dallas, Texas, in February, while Zhang performed better in the second half of the year, overtaking Wu to become China’s top-ranked male player. “I’m also dreaming of becoming a tour-level champion. It’s always been a goal for me,” Zhang pointed out. “We try to improve each other. I try to push him, and he tries to push me. You cannot be alone, it’s too boring and you lose motivation.” Zhang has a very busy schedule in Hangzhou, playing in the singles, doubles, and the mixed doubles. In the latter part of the Games, he might be playing three matches a day. He beat Ammar Faleh A Alhogbani of Saudi Arabia 7-5, 6-2 in the second round of the men’s singles yesterday. Zhang was down 0-3 in the first set, but rallied to victory. Earlier in the day, Wu saw off Indonesia’s Justin Barki 7-5, 6-1 in another second-round encounter.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 26 Sep 2023 | 5:00 am
China’s gold rush continues at Asiad
HOST China snapped up more gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games yesterday. A shooting world record fell to Chinese teenager Sheng Lihao in the men’s 10-meter air rifle with his 253.3 points surpassing teammate Yu Haonan’s 252.8 from Rio de Janeiro four years ago. “I had good luck in the final. I did quite well today, I was basically smooth,” said the 18-year-old, a Tokyo Olympic silver medalist. After winning all seven gold medals in the pool on the opening day, China dominated again, spearheaded by breaststroke world champion Qin Haiyang. The Shanghai swimmer added the Asian Games title to his collection with the second-fastest swim this year. Qin clocked a Games-record time of 57.76 seconds to win the 100 breaststroke. Fifteen-year-old Chen Ye won the men’s gold medal in the skateboarding park finals. It was the Chinese team’s first skateboarding gold at a large-scale global competition. At Qiantang Roller Sports Center, Chen and Japan’s Kusaki Hinano, also 15, won men’s and women’s golds. Zhang Liang became the most successful Asiad rower. Zhang won the men’s single sculls to add to his double sculls gold from Sunday and now has five Asiad titles from four editions.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 26 Sep 2023 | 5:00 am
It’s visa-free as Chinese get VIP Thai welcome
THAILAND extended a warm welcome to the first batch of visa-exempt flights from China yesterday, marking the launch of the nation’s fresh initiative to reinvigorate its Chinese tourist market. Approximately 341 visitors from Shanghai landed at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday morning, greeted with flowers and applause by the newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and several senior Thai officials. “This marks a promising first day for Thailand as we welcome Chinese tourists under the new visa-free entry policy,” he said at the airport’s welcoming ceremony. The Southeast Asian country recently announced its decision to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists from yesterday until the end of February 2024, in line with Srettha’s commitment to enhancing Thailand’s economy through tourism. “We are confident that this scheme will significantly boost the economy,” he said. According to latest data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, from January 1 to September 17 this year, Thailand recorded over 2.34 million Chinese tourists, approximately 37 percent of the same period in 2019. With the help of the scheme, authorities hope to double the current number, anticipating between 4.01 to 4.4 million Chinese visitors for the entire year. “Knowing that Thailand has lifted visa requirements for Chinese visitors, my mother and I made a quick decision to visit Thailand for a few days,” 25-year-old Tian Yumeng told Xinhua. The stimulus visa scheme, effective just ahead of China’s Golden Week in October, has prompted airlines to gear up for expanding China-Thailand routes, increasing flight frequencies, and introducing new connections between favored Thai destinations and second-tier Chinese cities, according to TAT. On the same day, flights from China’s Kunming, Changsha, and Nanning and landing in the Thai capital Bangkok and other popular tourist cities, such as Chiang Mai and Phuket, were also greeted with Thai-style welcome ceremonies.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 26 Sep 2023 | 5:00 am
Smart & green opening ceremony set for Asiad
TORCHBEARERS in the virtual and physical worlds will jointly light up the cauldron for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou tomorrow, organizers said yesterday. “A green, digital and intelligent Asian Games will leave lasting memories for people. The shows, transportation and related services have been ready for the event,” said Li Yiqing, spokesperson for the Asian Games opening and closing ceremonies operations center. The 12-day Hangzhou Asiad torch relay, covering 11 cities in Zhejiang Province, concluded on Wednesday. “The cauldron fueled by methanol will be lit by torchbearers at the opening ceremony, which is also a practice of hosting a green Games,” Li noted. “Advanced technologies, including digital fireworks, glasses-free 3D and augmented reality, will provide the audience with a unique experience to feel local Chinese culture in Hangzhou,” said Sha Xiaolan, chief director and producer for the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony of an international sports event has always been a major platform to present the host country’s culture. For Hangzhou, the elements of sweet osmanthus, the Qiantang River, and Autumn Equinox, the 16th solar term on the Chinese lunar calendar falling tomorrow, will be found during the ceremony. Lu Chuan, chief director for the opening ceremony, said, “Life in Hangzhou makes me feel comfortable. I hope to introduce this charming city and the profound Chinese culture to more people through the opening ceremony. We are embracing Asia and the world.” According to Games organizers, around 50,000 participants will attend the opening ceremony, while more than 1,200 volunteers will be on hand to offer guidance and assistance. The Hangzhou Games will be the most eco-friendly and smartest games ever held, said Vinod Kumar Tiwari, acting director general of the Olympic Council of Asia. “The infrastructures and stadiums designed, are completely eco-friendly. We see almost all of the cars here are electric vehicles. This probably will be a pioneering thing for the next Asiad.”Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 22 Sep 2023 | 4:00 am
Xi to attend opening ceremony
CHINESE President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou and hold a welcoming banquet and bilateral events for foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony, on September 22 and 23, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced yesterday. The foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony in the Zhejiang Province capital are: King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah of Kuwait, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda of Nepal, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of Timor-Leste, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea and Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of Malaysia Johari bin Abdul.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 22 Sep 2023 | 4:00 am
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