Guangdong Garden of Beijing Expo 2019 Launches Groundbreaking Ceremony

08-24/2018

At 10 a.m., on August 18, 2018, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Guangdong Garden of Beijing Expo 2019 kicked off. Chen Junguang, secretary of the Party group and general director of the Department of Forestry of Guangdong Province, Ao Yang, member of the Party group and general secretary of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangdong Committee, Deng Naiping, director of Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau and secretary of the Party group of Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau (BIHECB), Zhou Jianping, executive deputy director of BIHECB, and Wang Chuncheng, deputy director of BIHECB, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Attendees also included officials from relevant departments of Guangdong Province, BIHECB, and Yangqing District.

The groundbreaking ceremony

Deng Naiping, director of Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau and secretary of the Party group of Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau, attends the groundbreaking ceremony

In his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chen Junguang said, “Today, we gather here for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Guangdong Garden of Beijing Expo 2019, with an aim to deepen public awareness of the importance of Beijing Expo 2019. We will accomplish the mission to build the Guangdong Garden with firm confidence and strong measures in a high-standard, high-quality and high-efficiency manner. Taking advantage of the international stage provided by Beijing Expo 2019, the Guangdong Garden will showcase the green ecological traits of the Lingnan region, expand the international influence of Guangdong, and further enhance the province’s role as ‘two important windows’ of China.”

Chen Junguang, secretary of the Party group and general director of the Department of Forestry of Guangdong Province, delivers a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony

Zhou Jianping also delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony. He said, “Horticulture enjoys a long history and has developed far-reaching traditions in Guangdong Province. Themed on ‘Charm of Southern Guangdong, Water of Hometown,’ the Guangdong Garden will fully showcase the province’s beauty in four seasons—colorful spring, fragrant summer, splendid autumn and verdant winter, inspiring great expectations and aspirations. The day before yesterday, the State Council convened the third meeting of the Organizing Committee of Beijing Expo 2019, at which Hu Chunhua, vice premier of the State Council, noted that the importance of Beijing Expo 2019 is much more than the expo itself. As a major international event hosted by the People’s Republic of China when it celebrates its 70th birthday, anniversary, Beijing Expo 2019 not only comes at a time when China is embracing a series of large-scale international summits and forums, but also lays a foundation for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Moreover, the expo provides a platform for various provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions around China to display their achievements in ecological progress and demonstrates China’s determination to work together with all other countries to build a community featuring peaceful coexistence between mankind and nature. Therefore, Beijing Expo 2019 has aroused great expectations. Today, the Guangdong Garden began construction. I believe that the garden will impress visitors for its unique Lingnan flavor. As the host of Beijing Expo 2019, we will do our utmost to provide support for all exhibitors.”

Zhou Jianping, executive deputy director of Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau, delivers a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony

The groundbreaking ceremony

Lingnan gardens boast a distinctive style featuring elegance, tranquility, seclusion, singularity and simplicity. The Lingnan culture represented by Guangdong is known for its openness, inclusiveness and innovation. It incorporates the advantages of both Chinese and Western cultures and enables the Guangdong Garden to combine tradition and modernity. Covering an area of 2,500 square meters, the garden is themed on “Charm of Southern Guangdong, Water of Hometown.” With elements of Lingnan water towns as the framework, it is comprised of a front yard and a back yard connecting all the parts of the garden. Plants unique to Lingnan add a unique flavor to the garden, while the Green Butterfly Veranda and the Glazed Palace integrate Chinese and Western elements.

The Guangdong Garden is highlighted by its skillful design of plants-themed spaces, with flowering Lingnan bushes and rockeries reflected on the water or scattered amidst meadows or by pavilion, creating a passionate view of subtropical plants in Lingnan. Architects use different plant species to design several plants-themed spaces, including “Flowers in Spring and Fruits in Autumn,” “Remote Fragrance Lasting Forever,” “Fallen Flowers,” and “Blossoms of South China.” In the garden, visitors can experience Guangdong’s colorful spring, fragrant summer, splendid autumn and verdant winter, and natives from the province can obtain a sense of nostalgia.