After more than 1,400 days of preparation and a budget of NT$9.5 billion (US$300 million), the Taipei International Flora Expo will officially open its 91.8 hectares to the public today, showcasing 3,300 species of flowers and plants from 30 nations.
The expo, which will run until April 25, is spread over four parks — Yuanshan Park, Xinsheng Park, Dajia Riverside Park and Fine Arts Park. Exhibits of locally and foreign-grown flowers, garden designs and cutting edge digital and computer technology will be open to the public from 9am to 10pm daily.
On the final day before the grand opening, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and officials from Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, Belize, the Marshall Islands and the Czech Republic, as well as guests from more than 70 other nations gathered at the expo site to celebrate the event.
Photo: Hsu Chao-chang, Reuters
Having visited the expo several times to show his endorsement of Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), Ma yesterday accompanied the foreign guests on a tour of the Xinsheng Park pavilions to promote the event that he successfully won the right to host in 2006 when serving as Taipei mayor.
First lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青), former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and his wife also joined Ma and the guests.
The visit, however, created a moment of awkwardness when Ma, Hau and the guests took a photo and gave victory signs, which also represents Hau’s election No. 2.
Ma and the guests immediately changed to a thumbs up to avoid the appearance that the KMT was using the event to campaign for Hau.
Later at the Expo Hall, Hau said Taipei is fully ready to represent the country’s horticultural industry and dedication to green energy via the expo, and that he expects the event to raise the city’s international profile.
“The expo is not only an exhibition of flowers. It demonstrates the ‘three Rs’ — reduce, recycle and reuse — green buildings, green energy and green technology. The world will see the city’s efforts in seeking the harmonious coexistence of people and nature via the expo,” Hau said.
Hau said the expo’s organizing committee had already addressed the problems found during the trial operation and the only concern now was the weather, as it is likely to rain in the coming days.
International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) director Doeke Faber joined Ma in praising Hau and the city government for organizing a successful expo.
Taiwan’s diverse cultural heritage will also be highlighted through more than 7,000 live performances presented by well-known groups and artists.
Hau said more than 3.5 million tickets have already been sold. It is estimated that at least 8 million tourists, both domestic and foreign, will visit the expo.
For the grand opening today, Hau and Faber will greet the first batch of visitors in front of Yuanshan Park at 8:30am.
Former Martha Graham Dance Company principal dancer Sheu Fang-yi (許芳宜), Taiwanese singer Lin Yu-chun (林育群), Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and others will perform at the opening ceremony at 8:30pm, followed by an hour-long fireworks display over the Dajia Riverside Park and Dadaocheng District (大稻埕).
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said he would also visit the expo today.
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