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Traditional
flower cultivation, long rooted in Changhua's
Tien Wei and Yung Ching areas, has in
recent years developed into a famous
attraction, the Garden Highway. Flower
patches lit by a sea of lamps can be
seen next to the highway, bringing warmth
in the bitterly cold nights. Progressing
towards multi-mode management, production
areas have expanded into the Hsi Chow
and Bei Duo areas for a total of over
5,000 hectares under cultivation with
flower plantations dominating the geographical
area. Thanks to collective public efforts,
the charm of these flowers can be experienced
at the Taiwan Flower Expo, which will
take place here for 58 straight days,
from January 17 to March 14, 2004.
The
Flower Expo will be held at Hsi Chow
Farm. The first phase covers 26 hectares
for an international-scale expo patterned
after flower exhibitions in Japan and
Netherlands. This expo combines passive
exhibitions illustrating dynamic facts
and ideas for living. Visitors can enjoy
the flowers while celebrating the holidays
and winter vacation. The expo grounds
are divided into three major exhibition
halls and eight gardens. The three major
exhibition halls – "Theme
Hall", "Florescent Life Pavilion",
and "3D-Image Hall" – focus
on novel ideas. The Theme Hall presents
the latest floral technologies and results
from Taiwan's 15 academic research units,
providing visitors with an in-depth understanding
of the latest floral research. The Florescent
Life Pavilion focuses on individuals
promoting the creation of a spectacularly
unique lifestyle. The 3D-Image Hall,
a distinctive floral building, focuses
on the presentation of three-dimensional
films of lush and scenic rice fields.
The
eight gardens are truly luscious and
stunning, and will take visitors' breath
away. Enter the local Taiwan Garden from
Flower Fairy Plaza. The entrance slate
path, together with the Nine Fragrance
Garden, leads to the winding bridge-design
pavilion that is surrounded by water.
The garden is full of old-fashioned spirit:
traditional folk performances, a backyard
atmosphere, a canopy of melons, and country-style
water crops.
Next
door is the European Garden, which comprises
of an herb garden, wishing pond, rose
garden and wedding pavilion, as well
as a herb classroom, English floral teahouse
and cafe. This garden combines 18th century
French palatial flair with a natural
English style for a European version
of sense and sensibility. Next is the
tropical theme garden, full of tropical
desert, rain forest and marine vegetation
to surround visitors in full warmth.
The passionate Children's Garden highlights
fun with specially-designed jungle slide,
Garden Croton maze, bamboo tunnel and
children's crafting zone for exercising
the hands and brain; this a garden where
parents and children can bond. Next is
the secret, psychologically-soothing
Stress-Relief Garden, where visitors
can take a breather away from overwhelming
stress and purify the soul with greenery
in the Japanese Zen garden, emotion exposure
station, and scholar garden.
The
remaining three gardens are Changhua
Garden, University Garden, and Wind Garden,
each featuring the creative efforts of
different group organizations. At the
center of Flower Expo grounds is a green
pond, which is artistically embellished
with Ju Ming's jellyfish flower, "Queue".
Aside from fun and games, there are also
concessions at the Food Fair and Forest
Restaurant. The Flower Market provides
an opportunity to hold on to this lovely
experience by bringing carefully cultivated
products from the flower patches home.
Direct
buses to the expo are available at Taichung's
Train Station, Chaoma Bus Transfer Station,
and train stations in Changhua, Yuanlin,
and Tienchung.
Tickets
on weekends and holidays are NT$250.
Early purchases placed before Jan. 16
will include a free ticket for every
purchase of three tickets. Visit the
website http://www.2004flowerexpo.com
for other special promotions or changes,
or call (02) 2746-3903 (Taipei) or (04)
727-7520 (Changhua).
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