International garden expo ready to bloom

Yuan Yuan, mascot of the 9th China (Beijing) International Garden Expo

Workers are putting the finishing touches on preparations for Beijing's international garden expo, organizers said.

The 9th China (Beijing) International Garden Expo will open on May 18 in southwestern Fengtai district, said Xu Xing, spokeswoman for the expo.

The expo, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Beijing government, will be open for six months and is expected to attract 17 million visitors.

As of Sunday, nearly 50,000 people had applied for volunteer jobs at the expo, Beijing TV reported.

Applicants must take an online test before March 17. The organizing committee said it will recruit 10,000 volunteers.

Investment in 46 gardens created by 59 Chinese cities reached 200 million yuan ($32 million), with a total exhibition area of 140,000 square meters, the organizing committee said.

Thirty-four cities and institutions from 25 countries will join the expo.