SIX international design teams will work out the design for the two major pavilions of the 2014 International Horticultural Exhibition in Qingdao.

    Located at the center of the exhibition venue, the theme pavilion will cover an area of 25,000 square meters and serve as home to the opening and closing ceremonies of the exhibition.

    In addition, the theme pavilion will be used as the venue for cultural performances and media work during the exhibition.

    Designed to cover an area of 22,000 square meters, the plant pavilion will be built as “the garden of Eden for indoor plants.”

    The selection of the design teams for the two pavilions started June 8 and saw the six teams stand out from a professional review June 17.

    The six teams are scheduled to complete the design at the beginning of next month and construction of the two pavilions is scheduled to start at year-end.

    The exhibition, which is to occupy an area of 5.3 square kilometers and features the theme of “Colorful Horticulture, Harmonious City,” expects to attract 11 million visitors during the six-month event.

    The exhibition is an opportunity for Qingdao to showcase its achievements in gardening and urban development, and also to enhance the image of the city on the world stage.

    There have been more than 30 such exhibitions around the world, with the first being held in London in 1851. (Li Hao, Zhang Hua)