Taipei City to put NT$3m toward 2010 flower expo

As host of the World Flower Expo 2010, the Taipei City Government is planning to invest more than NT$3 billion (US$ 900 million) to turn the Yuanshan (圓山) area into a showroom of flowers.

The city government hopes to attract more than 6 million visitors from around the world and will create four exhibition centers, renovate Zhongshan Football Stadium and hold thousands of performances during the expo.

During a Taipei City Hall meeting on the expo, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said that the event would boost the local economy and generate income for the city government.

Chou Chin-an (周慶安), a division chief in the city's Economic Development Department, said the expo area would include attractions such Yuanshan Park, the Taipei Fine Art Museum and Dachia Riverside Park.

The main entrance to the exposition area will be on Jiuquan Street (酒泉街) and the city government will design a special garden for Yuanshan Park.

During the six-month expo, Chou said the city government would hold events such as flower tea tasting and workshops on drying flowers.

Under former Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) administration, the city government applied to hold the 2010 expo. Ma's administration planned to hold the expo at Guandu Nature Park, but Hau changed the location.

The department said it was the first time the city had won the right to host an international expo, adding that it would work with consulting firms to plan the event.