Hundreds of species will blossom into their full beauty at the show, with some newly imported exotic ones, according to the Hebei Provincial Tourism Bureau.

The Nandaihe International Entertainment Center, the venue of the show, invested more than 30 million yuan (about US$3.6 million) in 2002 to build the 40-hectare China Lotus Park where more than 300 different lotus species have been planted.

The center, which began operation in June 1997, is the largest tourist attraction of the province in terms of its annual number of tourist arrivals, which reached over one million last year. It won the right to play host to the 17th flower show for its plentiful lotus resources.

During the show, exhibitions of superb traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy works and photos by noted artists will be held, according to the bureau.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2003)