Visitors savour innovations at 9th China flower expo

Nearly 1,000 flower and plant species from 31 provinces are on display at the 9th China Flower Expo in Yinchuan. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

The scenery is simply awesome, the landscape breathtaking! The luxuriant environment is interspaced with streams, vast expanses of water, trees, shrubs, kempt grasses, and above all, flowers of different shapes, sizes, colours and designs. This is the venue of the Ninth China Flower Exposition running from September 1-October 7, 2017 in Yinchuan, capital of the temperate semi-arid Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

It was an unforgettable experience for a group of 27 African journalists who were taken around the flower exhibition grounds on September 6. Perhaps, the most noticeable innovation at this year’s China flower expo is the 5.67-kilometre tour rail around the whole flower expo park with an investment estimated at 660 million RMB (about 99 million US dollars).

It is the first time the China Flower Expo is being held in northwest China since it began in 1987. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

“Cloud Rail,” produced by BYD, China’s new energy vehicle maker, started operations at the Yinchuan Flower Expo. A single ride takes 20 minutes with eight stops, including most special sceneries and venues, thereby enabling visitors to have a panoramic view of the whole park. There are 10 trains on this line, each able to accordamate 100 to 200 passengers. The modern wagons with ample space for sitting and standing to view the flower gardens about 8 metres below are staffed by welcoming hostesses beaming with smiles, a pair of courteous train drivers, watchful security guards and other attendants.

After the Yinchuan Sky Rail Line 1 ride on the single-track light rail located above the park, it was time to hit the ground in open, slowly-driven electric cars. “It feels so aromatic!” “This is true communion with pure nature,” “The scent of flowers makes the air so pure,” “You can’t help but forget your worries in such an environment!” commented some of the African journalists as three energy-saving cars transporting them snaked their way through the narrow alleys of the vast ecological park.

The city of Yinchuan has over 2,000 hectares of floral planting. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

“Your spouse will certainly reconsider her decision to seek divorce if you invited her here!” a male journalist added jokingly. Colleagues responded with giggles and grins, probably acknowledging that the Ninth China Flower Exposition is a must-go destination for fun and nature lovers.

With theme, “Flowers Blossoming on the New Silk Road,” the exhibition area covers 386 hectares, showcasing flowers from 31 Chinese provinces as well as those from deserts in northwestern China. It is the first time the flower expo is being held in northwest China since it began in 1987.

The Flower Expo, lasting 37 days, is co-hosted by the State Forestry Bureau, China Flower Association and Ningxia People’s Government. According to officials, the expo is expected to promote the development of tourism, organic agriculture, production of Chinese wolfberry, wine in the Eastern Piedmont of Helan Mountain and other distinctive industries in Ningxia.

In intimacy with the beauty of nature! Photo by Kimeng Hilton