Secret utopia seeks 'return to nature'
The hidden utopia described by famous poet Tao Yuanming from the Jin Dynasty (317-420) will surface in the form of a 600-sq-m pavilion to represent central China's Hunan province at next year's expo.
In his work, Tao described a fisherman in Hunan's northwestern town of Wuling who discovered a mysterious valley called Taohuayuan, or Land of Peach Blossoms. Situated among scores of peach trees, the people there were said to be living happily in peace, unaware of the warfare and power struggles occurring elsewhere in China.
"This ideal living place has been inspiring Chinese people for thousands of years," said Li Pei, the deputy director of Hunan's expo organizing committee. "By creating a carefree paradise at the expo, we aim to bring to life the simple yet important Chinese philosophy of 'returning to nature'."
