The Taipei International Flora Expo will officially open on Saturday with a one-hour fireworks display over the Dajia Riverside Park and Dadaocheng District (大稻埕). It will also feature performances by well-known artists and a performing arts group, the Taipei City Government announced yesterday.
A total of 59 cities from 31 countries will participate in the expo that stretches across Yuanshan Park, Xinsheng Park, Dajia Riverside Park and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
For Saturday’s grand opening, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) will greet visitors at 9am in front of the Yuanshan Park area.
Former Martha Graham Dance Company principal dancer Sheu Fang-yi (許芳宜), Taiwanese signer Lin Yu-chun (林育群), Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and other performing groups will participate in the opening celebrations at 8:30pm.
Eighty local farmers will also be invited to attend the event for their dedication to the expo.
A fireworks show will start at 9pm along the Keelung River. Firework display designer Ricardo Caballer, who designed the fireworks show for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony in Sydney, has designed a one-hour show that will display various icons using fireworks including the shape of Taiwan, the expo logo and flowers.
A 30-minute firework display will take place at the Dajia Riverside Park followed by another 30-minute show at Dadaocheng, Taipei City’s Department of Tourism and Information Commissioner Tuo Tzung-hua (脫宗華) said.
The city government budgeted NT$12 million (US$390,000) for the fireworks show, while the opening ceremony will cost NT$17 million.
Stating his confidence in the success of the expo, Hau said the 20-day trial operation had helped the organizing committee identify major flaws, adding that it was fixing the problems and replacing flowers to ensure the best possible grand opening.
“Most of the flaws and problems we found at the trial operations can be fixed or quickly improved, and we are confident that the expo will be the pride of Taiwan,” he said.
Before the grand opening, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will join guests from 74 countries at an evening banquet at the Grand Hotel tomorrow.
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