Visitors from Qidong enjoy a sneak peek of the glorious views to be had at the main venue for the 10th China Flower Expo in Shanghai, before it opened on May 21. [Photo/CFP]

Qidong – a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – organized a group sneak peek on May 15 to the venue of the just-opened 10th China Flower Expo in Shanghai city, in order to fully prepare for the parallel session now being held in their town.

The 10th China Flower Expo, with the theme "Blossoming Chinese dream", is being held on Chongming Island – in Shanghai's Chongming district – between May 21 and July 2.

Visitors from Qidong – some 5,800 in total – were lucky enough to have a first look at the creative extravaganza of flowers, rated as the largest and most influential national flower show in China.

Qilong town – administered by Qidong, also situated on Chongming Island – is serving as the branch venue of the event, according to Xue Hai, Party chief of Qilong.

Costing nearly 50 million yuan ($7.77 million), the sub-venue has one axis – a long carpet of various flower blossoms – as well as two halls and three display areas. The two halls are now displaying peony flowers and related plants.

The sub-venue's activities will include a flower parade, a forest oxygen bar festival and a peony industry seminar.

Qilong plans to leverage the event to speed up the creation of tourist resorts and strive to develop itself as a town with urban agriculture, as well as appealing health and recreation and leisure tourism facilities.