China's rose industry takes center stage at international horticultural event

The opening ceremony of the ninth International Symposium on Rose Research and Cultivation was held in Beijing's Mentougou district over the weekend, and the related events will last until the end of the month.

The Beijing Rose Declaration was unveiled at the opening ceremony, advocating for roses as a medium to foster cultural exchange and ecological cooperation among countries and regions worldwide.

Hosted by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), the symposium is held every four years. This year's event marks its first appearance in China in 40 years, reflecting the global recognition of China's rose industry development, said the organizer.

"This symposium highlights China's achievements in rose research. China will take roses as a link to promote global industrial cooperation and contribute to worldwide ecological progress," said Ben Quanmin, an inspector from the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau.

The event combines tradition and innovation at the site. Visitors can use AR glasses to experience the whole process of rose growth and enjoy creative food options, such as Robot-made rose latte coffee.

"I learned lots of interesting knowledge about roses here in a fun way," said Ding Han, an 8-year-old student who came to the event with her mother. "There are hundreds of roses in the world. I found them so beautiful!"

Multilingual devices were provided to visitors from different countries at the site.

As an ecological conservation area of the capital, the Mentougou district has launched cultural and tourism promotion activities to boost green economic growth, combining the rose event.

From May 10 to the end of the month, visitors can enjoy five scenic spots and cultural performances in the district, with many other public activities also scheduled.