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2012-December-20

Seaside Qingdao to Become an Ocean of Flowers

Growing projects have been underway for some time now. Trees have been planted along the park roads and decorative plants, grasses and flowers have been under cultivation since last year.

Infrastructure for gullies, flower terraces and sidewalks in the Science, Green Industry and China gardens is almost complete. The organizing committee has modified its choice of flower species for the Expo after display rehearsals in spring and summer this year.

Seven important buildings are to be constructed, covering an area of 106,000 square meters. The external appearance of the Theme Pavilion carries special significance: it is built in the shape of the Chinese rose, Qingdao’s City Flower.

The opening ceremony will take place in the Theme Pavilion, where activities such as a flower design competition will be held and a visitor service center established.

The Flora Pavilion should be another stunning architectural construction. Organizers say the exterior will resemble a leaf, while inside will feature three exhibition zones displaying temperate-zone plants, ocean plants, bamboo and rattan.

In order to better showcase flower and garden art to the world, the Expo’s organizing committee has established an expert commission to provide technical consultation. Members include Meng Zhaozhen, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhang Qixiang, vice president of Beijing Forestry University, as well as one of the chief planners for Japan’s 2005 Aichi World Expo.

Wu Zhiqiang, chief planner of the 2010 Shanghai Expo and vice president of Tongji University, is also chief planner of the Qingdao Exhibition. In all, more than 30 design teams have participated in the planning and design for the 2014 event. For instance, the Theme Pavilion was designed by UNStudio, a renowned architectural team from the Netherlands; the Flora Pavilion is a work by U.S. firm HKS, while the U.K.’s Weddle Landscape Design Co., Ltd. is helping choose and design plants on display in the Flora Pavilion.

Low-carbon and Eco-friendly Construction

New technologies for environmental protection, advanced materials and energy-saving equipment will feature at the Expo.

Natural gas-based combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) technology introduced in the construction of the Theme Pavilion effectively saves power and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. For Expo roads, “warm mix” asphalt has been employed. This technology ensures mixing and paving temperatures do not exceed 20 degrees Centigrade, compared to 180 degrees for ordinary hot mix asphalt. This lower temperature reduces damage to trees planted along the roadside

In addition, efforts have been made in line with the concepts of green, low-carbon development and environmental friendliness to install ground-source heat pumps, permeable concrete paving, slide-proof road surfaces and LED lighting. Infrastructure is also in place to collect and use rainwater, and to recycle construction waste and silt. Moreover, digital technology will be applied throughout the park. Visitors will be able to look for directions through a navigation system and electronic map lookup, as well as check information, book appointments for visits and make virtual tours through an online portal.

In order to preserve the biodiversity of the Expo Park, the organizing committee invited specialists from Qingdao Agricultural University to examine local flora, fauna and soil specimens. Based on the research, they decided to plant mainly local trees, while complementing them with a small number of carefully selected varieties from outside the area. Flowers that easily adapt to – and don’t interfere with – local conditions will be introduced. These efforts should ensure the Expo Park continues to blossom long after the Expo has concluded.

The organizing committee has taken steps to protect and utilize local natural resources. They have coordinated planning and design with construction projects to avoid bringing any harm to the forests of nearby mountain ranges. Work is done to preserve old trees, as well as roads and bridges that have been in the park since the 1930s. Planners have also optimized the roads layout in the park to minimize the transplanting of trees.

Promoting Cooperation and Expanding Influence

According to Li Fengli, secretary general of the Qingdao Horticultural Expo organizing committee, of the 124 booths to feature at the Expo, 104 have already been reserved. The organizing committee has also signed sponsorship contracts with the Bank of Qingdao and the Broad Group totaling RMB 100 million, says Li.

The committee also intends to partner with the cablecar operator at Mount Tai and the Austria-based Doppelmayr Garaventa Group to build a ropeway in the Expo Park. The cooperation should save RMB 200 million, the committee estimates. It has also signed contracts with 14 licensed companies to promote souvenir sales.

To date, 30 participating exhibitors are registered for exhibitions in the International Garden. They include one international organization, a joint African exhibition and groups from 28 countries on six continents, including the U.K., Germany, France, Holland, Russia, the U.S., Japan and South Korea. They will display their advanced flower industry know-how and distinctive local cultures.

Meanwhile 42 participating exhibitors have registered for exhibitions in the China Garden, including representatives from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Fourteen companies have also signed on for the Green Industry Garden, where they will make a combined effort to create a distinctive garden view for visitors.

Fence and closed circuit surveillance will be installed to ensure security during the event. After the Expo has concluded, the venue will be built into a new residential and business area. Bidding for the design plan of the new area will be open to domestic and international competitors.

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