Beijing International Horticulture Expo: Grand garden show helps Yanqing achieve a greener landscape
Updated 07:50, 22-Apr-2019
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The world will be watching Beijing's Yanqing district during the next 6 months, as the district hosts the 2019 International Horticultural Expo. With its vast natural landscapes, the district is now taking advantage of the world's biggest garden show to push ahead its greener, sustainable mission. CGTN reporter Wang Mengzhen has the details.
Last-stage preparations. Zhang Guohua and her fellow gardeners are working around the clock to plant more fresh flowers for the upcoming expo. As a Yanqing local, Zhang is excited to get involved in its green development.
ZHANG GUOHUA, GARDENER YANQING DISTRICT, BEIJING "We've planted a variety of flowers and trees this spring including the forsythia, peach, and apricot. I simply love gardening. I have to say, Yanqing has so much to offer. Many of the plants to be displayed at the expo are from here."
More than 2000 species of indigenous plants and flowers from Yanqing will be on show at the global horticultural gathering. And the location of the expo lies within a carefully protected environmental conservation area, with the local Gui River running through it. Authorities say more than 1 million square meters of fresh green space was added along the expo site in the past year.
HE HAIJUN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR URBAN MANAGEMENT OFFICE, YANQING DISTRICT, BEIJING "We've demolished many illegal or old construction sites to create more green space like lawns here and we believe this will help Yanqing gain more business and investment opportunities in the future."
And local residents are feeling the benefits of these ecological achievements.
"The square was refurbished, including the newly-built public restrooms and entertainment facilities. The air is cleaner as well. Now I think it's every citizen's responsibility to keep up the environment without destroying it."
Sustainability, that's an issue many places are facing after hosting grand events. But authorities here say the expo gardens have already been incorporated into the area.
HE HAIJUN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR URBAN MANAGEMENT OFFICE, YANQING DISTRICT, BEIJING "We're always committed to a greener growth pattern. So, this expo has no conflicts with our development strategies. We've also set up a special team to deal with the rational use of venue resources in the post-expo era."
WANG MENGZHEN BEIJING "Harmony between mankind and nature, this ancient philosophy is alive and well in Yanqing, waiting to welcome an estimated 16 million visitors during the expo. WMZ, CGTN, BEIJING."