Yunnan Holds First China International Flower FestivalYunnan, long been honored as a "natural garden", will once again show its beauty and brilliance to the world. The Yunnan provincial government and China Flower Association announced in Beijing on May 30 that the China Kunming International Flower Festival is scheduled to be held in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province from September 28 to October 3.This is an important move taken by Yunnan in implementing the strategy for the large-scale development of China's west, building Yunnan into a "strong green economic province" and creating the province's new special industry based on its characteristics and advantages. It's another grand meeting of horticulture held by Yunnan following the China '99 Kunming International Horticulture Exposition. Yunnan has the most species of plants and over 2,500 species of wild flowers. In recent years, Yunnan has regarded cultivation of flowers as a key industry, it has set up three major flower-producing areas. The planting area had increased from 240 mu (15 mu = 1 hectare) in 1994 to 25,935 mu in 1999 and the total flower output has reached 1.1billion, with the occupancy rate staying at over 40 percent. To build the largest flower-producing and flower-exporting base in China as well as in Asia, Yunnan will push forward the development of flower industry. At present, a 313-hectare flower demonstration garden involving a total investment of 160 million yuan has started construction since this March. Centered on the theme of flower, the first China Kunming International Flower Festival will hold 10 activities like exhibition, trade fair, performance and academic exchange. The friendly and hospitable Yunnan people plan to host the international flower festival annually. |
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