WENZHOU, Zhejiang — China’s most prestigious international landscaping gathering, the 15th China International Garden Expo, officially opened its doors to the public on Wednesday in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, spotlighting the nation’s ongoing dedication to advancing ecologically friendly urban transformation. First launched in 1997, the expo has long held status as China’s highest-profile and most influential international event in the landscaping and urban greening sector. Over nearly three decades, it has transformed far beyond its original focus as a showcase for floral displays and ornamental gardening, growing into a multifaceted global platform that brings together ecological restoration projects, urban renewal initiatives, and cultural heritage preservation under one umbrella.
This year’s iteration of the expo marks a notable step forward in sustainable event planning, with organizers integrating cutting-edge green and low-carbon technologies across every stage of development. A core priority of the 2026 expo is aligning large-scale event infrastructure with broader local urban renewal goals, ensuring the park and surrounding areas deliver long-term benefits to Wenzhou residents long after the expo concludes. In a break from traditional large-scale event development models, this year’s expo emphasizes grassroots public participation, inviting local citizens to take part as co-builders of the venue and contributors to programming.
More than 600 public and professional events are scheduled across the expo’s run, organized around four central pillars: ecological empowerment, cultural revitalization, industrial upgrading, and international dialogue. The programming has been designed to create immersive, accessible experiences that blend the expo’s core mission with tourism, youth engagement, everyday community use, and technological innovation, breaking down barriers between professional landscaping displays and public recreation.
Since the venue, Wenzhou Garden Expo Park, opened for a soft trial operation on February 14, it has already drawn overwhelming public interest. As of the official opening, the park has welcomed more than 2.18 million visits, averaging 40,000 visitors per day in the lead-up to the launch.
To mark the official opening of the expo, organizers released the landmark Wenzhou Declaration on opening day. The document lays out a global call to action, advocating for a people-first approach to urban planning, heightened global collaboration on environmental protection, and the exploration of a Chinese model for building inclusive, sustainable modern cities that center the needs of all residents.