Xi’an, ancient capital of China for 13 dynasties, was granted the right to host the 2011 World Horticultural Exposition by the Association of International Producers of Horticulture (AIPH) at its 59th congress, held at Brighton, United Kingdom on September 4.

 

China.org.cn was informed by Wang Jun, director of the Information Office of Xi’an Municipal Government yesterday. Wang is also leader and speaker of the Xi’an delegation attending the AIPH congress.

 

The 2011 World Horti-Expo will be held from April 11 to October 11, 2011 as an exhibition of A2+B1 level, which permits local government to apply.

 

The Expo is expected to bring some 10 million visitors to Xi’an, Wang said. The venue will be located in a new district of the city, Chanba district.

 

Xi’an is the capital of Shaanxi Province. As one of the most important cities in Chinese history, it is renowned for being the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and for the location of the Terracotta Army from the Qin Dynasty.

 

On September 1, 2004, Shenyang, in northeast China, made a successful bid for holding the 2006 International Horticultural Exposition at the 56th conference of the International Association of Horticulture Producers.

 

The city of Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province in China's far south, was the first Chinese city to host the World Horti-Expo in 1999. The Kunming Expo was A1 level, which only permits national governments to apply.

 

The International Horticultural Exposition is the highest professional exposition in the world. It is a global organization having more than 25 member organizations of commercial horticultural producers from five continents.

 

The objective of AIPH is to represent at an international level the common interests of horticultural producers and their organizations.

 

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wang Zhiyong, September 6, 2007)