Visitors flock to first day of horticultural exhibition

The number of visitors to the International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing reached 35,000 by 7 pm on the event's opening day on Monday, according to the expo's coordination bureau.

Early Monday morning, a flock of visitors formed a line as they waited to get into the park in Beijing's northwestern Yanqing district at the 9 am opening. The event continues for 161 additional days.

Cai Qi, Party secretary of the capital and director of the expo's executive committee, announced the opening of the park in front of the China Pavilion, one of the main sites for horticultural exhibitions at the foot of the Great Wall.