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Let millions of chrysanthemums bloom in Xiao Lan

Linda Yeung

WHAT does it cost to keep a tradition alive? Ask the thousands of residents in Xiao Lan county, right at the centre of the Pearl River Delta, and they will cite their months of working on the land.

Since May, growing chrysanthemums - the flower that was for centuries a major product of the now-industrial town - has been the preoccupation of work units and residents, at the behest of the County Government.

The purpose of all this horticultural activity is to make possible a huge chrysanthemum show due to begin next Saturday, staged in keeping with a tradition which began in 1814.

Although the city-wide chrysanthemum show is held only every 60 years, it has remained a well-honoured tradition. Early chrysanthemum lovers came up with the idea to commemorate the year named Jia Shu in the Chinese almanac - which only re-appears every six decades - when Xiao Lan had its first settlers.

And this year's show will be the largest ever, even nationwide. According to county officials, 600,000 pots of chrysanthemums (of hundreds of species) will be placed alongside major roads, and in three major exhibition sites - the People's Park, a new development zone where the new County Government office is located, and the tranquil riverside area not too far from the zone.

Floral experts from Guangzhou have come by invitation to create unusual displays, sponsored by state-run, private or joint-venture companies.

The show promises to be such a spectacle that local officials are concerned about the huge numbers of people expected to attend during its 15-day run, admits county official He Ren, who is also a member of the organising committee for the show.

'We are expecting close to six million visitors from across China, Hong Kong and Macau, and overseas countries,' Mr He said. 'We are deeply concerned about how to handle the crowd, especially on the first three days.' It is a daunting task, given that the County Government is currently only handling a population of 136,000, apart from 80,000 foreign workers. Mr He said the chrysanthemum show was only possible with the provision of extra gong ans (public security officers) and other lines of support from the Government in Zhongshan, a relatively affluent city south of Guangzhou, which has control over Xiao Lan.

All traffic into and out of Xiao Lan will be banned during the first three days of the show - highlighted by a firework display and colourful parades - during which time the number of visitors is expected to reach its peak. Private vehicles, including the omnipresent bicycles and motorbikes, will not be allowed on the streets; the only public transportation available will be buses catering specifically for visitors.

Inevitably, locals can expect to rely on their feet rather than any other mode of transport during those days.

'It won't be a problem. We often walked before economic reforms took place in 1979. There were much fewer motorcycles back in those days,' said Mr He, looking relaxed in a spacious reception area in the new, enormous county government office building. 'This is only a small town, not a big city.' Thirty temporary car parks will be opened for the public buses, which are certain to be loaded with passengers.

'Accommodation is another major problem. All of our hotels are already booked up for the whole period when the show is on,' said Mr He.

Judging from their enthusiastic tone, it appears nothing will turn Xiao Lan officials away from the massive project. Meanwhile, Hong Kong businessmen whose roots were in Xiao Lan have also been a major driving force.

Honorary president of the Former Xiao Lan Residents' Association in Hong Kong, Ho Sik-liang, sits on the organising committee with 10 other former residents now settled in the territory. Raised in a 13-member family that flourished on the rice business, he will be watching the grand flower show for the second time in his life.

His memory of the last one, staged when the Nationalists were in power in China, is at best faint. He was only six at the time. A major difference from the upcoming one, he remembers however, was that the exhibits were mainly confined to temples. Today, they are to be in heavy presence in a variety of places.

Today's show is also an expensive event, boasting a budget of 60 million yuan and supplemented with a host of cultural shows scheduled over a two-week period.

Officials maintain the costly tradition is worth keeping, for reasons other than enhancing the reputation of the county which, like several others in southern Guangdong, is increasingly popular with overseas factory owners and property speculators.

'It's an opportunity to show off our economic success,' said deputy county chief Wang Biaoquan firmly. Xiao Lan was a deprived county when a much smaller-scale show was staged in 1979, the year specially-formed economic zones in southern China, together with Xiao Lan, spearheaded economic reforms.

It will also allow thousands of overseas Chinese to go 'home' again. Migrants from such places as San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Hawaii, Vancouver, Peru, Hong Kong and Macau are among the 3,000 special guests invited to come during the first three days.

'Apart from looking at the flowers the overseas visitors will experience the feeling of being back in their home town,' said Mr Ho. 'Some of them have not been back for 40 to 50 years. Many of the migrants we contacted are very keen to return.'

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