Shenzhen city, in south China's Guangdong Province, is to spend 235.8 million yuan (28.4 million US dollars) building a park to stage a half-year international horticultural exposition next year.
The fifth China (Shenzhen) International Horticultural and Floral Exposition, due to open on Sept. 16, 2004, is expected to be the largest event of its kind with visitors estimated to reach three million.
The park, covering 66 hectares, will be the largest garden ever built in Shenzhen, a city known as a pioneer in China's reform and opening-up drive which started in 1978.
The park will consist of a display hall, two display rooms, three scenic spots featuring foreign, Chinese and Guangdong horticulture, and three gardens growing shade and climbing plants,and melons and fruits, and another garden featuring marshland horticulture.
Areas available for showcase events will amount to 15,000 square meters, with scenic areas covering 200,000 square meters.
(People's Daily April 3, 2003)