Taichung World Flora Exposition will open on November 3. City Mayor, Chia-Lung Lin,t today (12th) took the mascots of the Exposition “Leo Family and Horsiver” to Taipei Zoo to promote World Flora Exposition. Also, Taipei City Mayor, Wenje Ko, Keelung City Mayor, Youchang Lin, and New Taipei City’s Commissioner of Agricultural Department, Wen Li signed “Declaration of Taichung.” Meanwhile, Mayor Lin announced the county-and-city week for Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City. This year, the week of December 17 to December 21 will be Keelung Week. The week of January 14 to January 18 next year will be New Taipei City. The week of February 18 to February 22 next year will be Taipei City. As long as visitors show their ID cards to the box office when purchasing tickets, they will get 50% off for their tickets. People from Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City are encouraged to visit the World Flora Exposition.

Today Mayor Lin and the mascots of World Flora Exposition, Leo Family and Horsiver, went north to Taipei Zoo for “Declaration of Taichung Signing Ceremony for World Flora Exposition Promotion at Taipei.” Taipei City Mayor, Wenje Ko, Keelung City Mayor, Youchang Lin, and New Taipei City’s Commissioner of Agricultural Department, Wen Li attended the ceremony and signed “Declaration of Taichung” to support the Exposition’s advocate for the spirit of green production, natural ecology, and humane life. Legislator, Zhipeng Gao and City Government Advisor for Taipei City and Taichung City, Guorong He were also present at the ceremony.

World Flora Exposition’s mascots, Leo Family and Horsiver, were present with Taipei City’s mascot, Bravo!, and Taipei Zoo’s mascot, Manidae to promote the importance of ecological conservation and have fun with children and adults on the scene. The mascots also prepared roses for attendees, and Bravo! was invited to do the World Flora Exposition Dance, which is loved by people. Attendees are vying to take pictures with the mascots, which fills the zoo with laughter.

Mayor Lin said that he was happy to take the Leo Family and Horsiver to Taipei Zoo to met Bravo! He also wanted to invite residents in Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City to visit Taichung World Flora Exposition. Not only do many counties and cities participate in the Exposition, but also many countries participate in the event. In addition to flowers, there are many flora arts and agricultural product exhibition, which enriches the Exposition too. Everyone is invited to come to this Taiwan’s grand gathering.

Mayor Lin mentioned that Taichung World Flora Exposition will be presented to the general public in Houli, Waipu, and Fengyuan from November 3 this year to April 24 next year. When Taichung City was planning the World Flora Exposition, Houli was the originally scheduled venue. However, leopard cats, a kind of protected animal were found at Houli. To avoid destructing leopard cats’ ecological environment, City Government decided to make an adjustment on the venue, which resulted in including Fengyuan, Houli, and Waipu as the Exposition venue. Also, to preserve historical relics and buildings in Houli Horse Ranch, City Government revised the Exposition content, which earned the recognition of Association Internationale des Producteurs de l' Horticulture (AIPH) who named “Taichung International Flora Exposition” as “Taichung World Flora Exposition.”

The theme of Taichung World Flora Exposition is “Flowers Show GNP.” The term “GNP” is a twist on Gross National Product and stands for Green as green production, Nature as natural ecology, and People as humane life. The concepts emphasize the sustainable development among human beings and between people and nature. It is hoped that through the World Flora Exposition, people will be able to slow down during our busy schedule, experience the beauty of nature, and listen to the sound of blossoming.

Taipei City Mayor, Wenje Ko, said that in another 52 days, Taichung World Flora Exposition will start on November 3 and recognized the theme of the Exposition, “Flowers Show GNP” presents the value of progressive. Taipei City had organized Flora Exposition before. Days ago when visiting Taipei, he found that the urban development in Taichung City is quite fast. He hopes that in the future, Taipei City and Taichung City will have more experience exchange to promote a shared and better life. Taichung World Flora Exposition is Taiwan’s Flora Exposition. People all over Taiwan are invited to support and give best wishes to the Exposition.

Keelung City Mayor, Youchang Lin, also said that he is very grateful for Taichung City to have county-and-city week and Keelung City will support the grand event of Taiwan wholeheartedly. In recent years, all kinds of development in Taichung City have shown progression so that the Exposition will be very successful. Commissioner of New Taipei City’s Agricultural Department, Wen Lee, and Legislator, Zhipeng Gao, also invited everyone to participate in the events of the Exposition and wished the grand event be successful.

According to the Information Bureau of Taichung City Government, ecological conservation cannot wait. Today the presence of Leo Family, Horsiver, Bravo!, and Manidae is to work together to create a shared and better Taiwan. Taichung City Government will continue its efforts and hope to create a friendly ecological environment for leopard cats through the legal process.

Taichung World Flora Exposition is not a one-time exhibition but an event that makes Taichung City a green and sustainably developed city. Through more than 3 years of planning by the City Government team, the Exposition is expected by everyone. It is believed that the Exposition will surprise the world and let the world see the beauty of Taiwan. For more detailed information, please visit the official website of “2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition” .