The Qingdao International Horticultural Exposition Park, in Qingdao city, Shandong province, was named a national 4A scenic spot on Dec 26, according to an announcement issued by the National Tourism Administration.

Qingdao Expo Park gains 4A scenic status

The 2014 Qingdao International Horticultural Exposition, from April to Oct, can be deemed as the city's largest international exhibition. With a total area of 241 hectares, the exhibition park displayed more than 1,700 kinds of plants, brought 2,100 excellent performances and showcased hundreds of the latest scientific and technological achievements in horticulture around the world, which received high reputation from home and abroad.

The expo has walked away with a string of prizes, such as the world design architecture gold medal at the 2014 China Qingdao International Ecocity and Green Roof Conference on Oct 20, and the AIHP gold medal and annual exhibition prize of the 2014 International Garden Tourism Awards on Oct 25. A 3D painting on the walls of the tunnel in the Expo Park was listed into the Guinness Book of World Records on Dec 23, as the largest one it had collected.

It has been closed for scheduled maintenance on Oct 26, and is expected to reopen to the public in March 2015 after renovation.