Visitors take photos of orchids on display at the 5th Orchid Exhibition of China in Liancheng county, Longyan, Fujian province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 5th Orchid Exhibition of China commenced at an orchid expo park in Liancheng county, Longyan, Fujian province on Nov 21.

This was the first time Fujian held the state level orchid exhibition. This time the event consists of a two-day academic symposium and a six-day exhibition, attended by more than 700 orchid experts, scholars, government officials, and exhibitors from home and abroad.

About 1.56 million orchids of 1,200 species from all over the world including Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore are on display.

Liancheng county, located on the western part of Fujian province, has had orchids since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Currently, the orchid industry has become one of the pillar industries of its modern agriculture.

The county now has more than 4,200 orchid enterprises, cooperatives, and growers, and a plantation area of over 4,400 mu (293.3 hectares), annually producing over 24 million orchids worth approximately 600 million yuan ($90.4 billion).

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Liancheng was granted with the title of "Hometown of Orchid Culture in China".

Zhong Yongqiang, Party secretary of Liancheng, said that the county will further support the development of the orchid industry and develop itself into China's largest orchid scientific research base and a world-renowned orchid culture-themed scenic spot.

First organized by the Orchid Society of China in 2007, the Orchid Exhibition of China is held biennially and aims to promote the development of China's orchid industry and strengthen the academic communication between China and international agencies.