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The World Horticultural Expo
The World Horticultural Expo is organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers, the peak body of the flower and horticulture industry. As of 2016, China has hosted the Expo 7 times. Its purpose is to promote the exchange and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, so that participating countries have the opportunity to promote and show their achievements in various fields to the world. It also has important influence on China's economic, cultural, tourism, and environmental development.
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2016 Tangshan International Horticultural Exposition

Over 7 million people live in the city of Tangshan and the surrounding area. With a history of mining and ceramics this important Chinese industrial city is also well known for the devastating earthquake that killed 242,000 citizens in 1976. The city was almost completely flattened so when you visit now it is remarkable to see such a strong and vibrant place. The new city has risen from the ashes of the old one in accordance with the cities emblem, the Phoenix Nirvana. This city continues to rebuild and the 2016 international horticultural exposition is an important part of this ‘rebirth’. The exposition has strong support from the city government. The expo will cover 540 hectares of which 143 ha is a large lake. Construction and planting is well underway on the site which has the advantage of already being a public park with established trees and features. Environmental sensitivity is an important consideration for the organisers.

World, International and Horticultural Expositions (EXPO)

World Expositions (EXPO) are international activities which have been organized since mid-19th century and have been contributing to communication, dialogue and peace between countries. These Expositions, which could in a sense, be considered as cultural, historical and educational activities of the world, enable information sharing for a better world by bringing the countries together. The basic goal of the World Expositions is to exhibit ideas, cultural assets or projects regarding the future of the world as well as to share the cultural and scientific accumulations, rather than to promote commodities, and in this manner to pave the way for generating new ideas and to contribute to the universal socio-cultural development. Furthermore, special attention is paid to the suitability of the Expositions with the characteristics of the host country/city. World Expositions focus on universal themes such as technology, innovation and harmony with environment. They provide visitors the opportunity to address their expectations regarding modern life, while protecting the cultural heritage of their countries. The Expositions remain open for 90 to 180 days. Within that time period, they make a positive impact on the city as well as the region and the country they take place in. Host cities become a brand thanks to Expositions. Host cities gain monumental buildings through Exhibitions as well. Among them are La Tour Eiffel in Paris, Ponte Vasco da Gama in Lisbon and Atomium in Brussels. Expositions continue to hold a distinctive value and meaning for the host city even after their termination. Re-organized as a techno-park accommodating firms developing technologies, the exposition venue in Seville is today a contributor to the economy of the city as well as to that of the country. World Expositions are organized by the International Bureau of Expositions (Bureau International des Expositions-BIE), headquarters of which is located in Paris. BIE organizes a World Expo with a universal theme once in every 5 years, and an International Specialized Expo with a specific theme between the World Expos. Since 1960, BIE also supports the organization of the International Horticultural Exhibition which is approved upon the endorsement of the candidacy of a country and a city by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). BIE has also supported the Milan Triennial Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Architecture. Although Turkey has become a member of BIE on October 5th, 2004, out of the 63 World Expositions organized since 1851, she has participated in 17 of them during the Ottoman Empire period and 17 expositions during the Republican era.

World Horticultural Expo Garden

Sitting in the northeast suburbs (6 kilometers from the city center) of Kunming, the World Horticultural Expo Garden is a venue for the 1999 Kunming International Horticulture Exposition. It is a first-class Daguanyuan (Grand View Garden), which has typical Chinese and local Yunnan characteristics. The World Horticultural Expo Garden is about 218 hectares (nearly 540 acres) in area, with vegetation coverage reaching 76.7%, including gradual slopes of 120 hectares (about 300 acres). And 10% to 15% of the garden is covered by water. Gardening works of many domestic and foreign places are on display here. Exhibitions Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden is now divided into five big exhibition halls, seven special gardens and three outdoor showplaces. The five exhibition halls include the China Hall, the International Hall, the Man and Nature Hall, the Science and Technology Hall and the Grand Greenhouse. Seven theme gardens are the Vegetable and Fruit Garden, the Bamboo Garden, the Bonsai Plants Garden, the Tea Garden, the Medicinal Herb Garden, the Tree Garden and the Garden of Famous Flowers and Strange Stones (It was found after the 1999 Kunming International Horticulture Exposition). The three outdoor showplaces are the International Exhibition Gardens, the Domestic Exhibition Gardens and the Exhibition Area for Enterprises. Going straight forward after entering the garden, visitors will see the Grand Greenhouse. With total area of 3,630 square meters (about 0.9 acre), it includes four exhibition areas: the Tropical Plant Exhibition Area, the Temperate Plants Exhibition Area, Plants at High and Cold Elevations Areas (3,000 meters or more above the sea level), Exhibition Centre and Photos Exhibition Area. After visiting the Grand Greenhouse, the tourists can see the Domestic Exhibition Gardens to the north. It is composed of 34 sections according to China's provinces and regions. With different characteristics, these provincial gardens stand in four solid lines. Walking forward to the World Horticultural Expo Garden, visitors encounter the International Exhibition Gardens, which include 33 sections in total. The five big exhibition halls and the seven special gardens are scattered here. Features Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden transplants and cultivates 2,551 kinds of plants with a total census of more than 2 million. Among them, 112 categories are rare and endangered species. With the theme of Man and Nature, it shows that human beings are interrelated with Nature in a harmonious way. As the only remains of International Horticulture Exposition, Kunming Expo Garden has created the best record in history. At the same time, it has set a slew of world records in Guinness, such as the largest in area, the fastest in pace of construction and the most in species of plants on display.

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Examples

1 As Turkey’s first EXPO, EXPO 2016 Antalya International Horticultural Exposition is being held between April 23rd and October 30th 2016, in Antalya, with a theme of “Flowers and Children”.

2 Turkey has participated in the International Horticultural Exhibition entitled “Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006”, which was organized with the theme of “To Express Love For Humanity” in the city of Chiang Mai located in north Thailand between the dates of November 1st, 2006 and January 31st, 2007, with a permanent Turkish Garden of 2000 m2.

3 Recent successes over the last two years include the horticultural expos in Suncheon 2013 (South Korea) and Qingdao 2014 (China) which each attracted over 4 million visitors.