Text by Qiu Lei
The terra-cotta warrior statues are globally famous, and if you know about them, you should know about the city of Xi’an, which was capital of 13 of China’s ancient dynasties. Most visitors to Xi’an are stunned that the city is so embraced by historical artifacts around every corner. Xi’an locals like to say that any brick you casually pick up could possibly be an invaluable millennium-old artifact.
However, visitors arriving in Xi’an after April 28 of this year have been able to see not only the city’s timeless ancient relics, but also a more fleeting attraction: a grand horticultural exhibition. For 178 days, the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 will remain in Xi’an, closing on October 22. With a theme alluding to eternal peace and harmony between nature and mankind, the expo features not only beautiful natural scenery composed of myriad plants, but also a variety of garden architectural designs. Also, the event showcases the history, culture, and characteristics of Xi’an. Participants are urged to demonstrate new concepts and creative methods of enhancing harmony with nature, and explore innovative models for sustainable co-existence between humans, cities, gardens, and nature.
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