Qingdao gets ready to blossom(3)
Excavators, loaders and other construction machinery are operating at the site despite falling temperatures. Workers said that at present, the facilities and underground pipe network and other infrastructure projects are under construction in the north and south area.
As early as 2007, the Qingdao government advocated hosting the International Horticultural Exposition as part of a strategy to boost economic and social development. The government wants to use the opportunity to lift the city's competitiveness.
In April 2009, the government submitted an application to Shandong Province government to bid for the rights to host the 2014 International Horticultural Exposition. The provincial government approved the application two weeks later, expressing confidence that Qingdao is "capable of hosting an International Horticultural Exposition with style and high quality."
With close coordination and joint efforts of various government departments, Qingdao was granted the honor to host the expo for 2014 during a meeting of International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) in September 2009. Doeke Faber, president of AIPH, formally confirmed Qingdao as the host city after paying a visit to Baiguoshan Forest Park, the site for the expo.
As Faber signed the contract, preparation work for the expo formally started.
Currently, construction of roads and other infrastructure is widely underway.
"Winter is not a good season for construction of halls, and we shall start building the main halls and plant museums in the spring," an official said.
Construction of the main avenue has been in full swing since the end of March, and can open for traffic by the end of 2012. So far, construction has started on 20 of the 27 planned roads, with a total length of 25 kilometers. The park's pipeline system, including water, sewer, gas, heating, electricity and telecommunications will total 45 kilometers upon completion.
Major projects are expected to be completed by October 2013, and thereafter, the expo will start welcoming visitors on a trial basis until March 2014, one month before the official opening.
During the trial opening, efforts will be made to prepare for the opening and closing ceremonies. Preparations for reception, ticket affairs and tourist services will also be done during the period.
"After visiting the Xi'an Horticultural Expo, we have learned a lot," said Li, the lead organizer. "They offered many ideas about how we can make our expo a better experience."
