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The first ever World Leisure EXPO opens in the city of Hangzhou,
China on April 22 and runs until October 22, 2006. A joint
enterprise of the World Leisure, The City of Hangzhou, and
the Songcheng Group., it is designed to celebrate the diversity
of leisure and its capacity to change the lives of people
and communities world wide.
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The World Leisure EXPO is first of three mega-events
to be hosted by China in this decade. The other two:
The Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the Shanghai World
Exposition in 2010. EXPO 2006 will be comprised of a
series of exhibitions, special events, conferences,
trade shows, festivals and training programs. The overall
purpose of the event is to examine and show how leisure
can serve as a means for improving the quality of life
for all … socially, culturally, and economically.
More particularly, EXPO 2006 is designed to exchange
and disseminate ideas from all parts of the world, and
to showcase the latest and best examples of innovative
design, public policy, programming, facilities and equipment.
At the same time, the EXPO will share with the world
the rapidly growing stature and prestige of Hangzhou
as an exemplar of an international leisure city …
reflecting the new China of the 21st century. |
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Hangzhou is a city of
5 million people located an easy 180 kms. from Shanghai…
a two hour drive via freeway, or even quicker by high
speed train. With an outstanding new international airport,
direct flights are available from a growing number of
international cities, and many within China. Situated
in the midst of lakes, rivers and mountains, the economically
prosperous Hangzhou City has long been regarded as among
the most desirable travel and tourism destinations in
China. As one of China's seven ancient capitals, it
is historically and culturally special. Its modern facilities
and scenic attractiveness brings 30 million visitors
each year. Hangzhou is situated in one of China’
premier tea growing areas, and was just recently been
declared the tea capital of China. |
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As partners
in the EXPO undertaking, World Leisure has special advisory,
administrative and promotional roles and responsibilities.
In addition, it will convene the 9th World Leisure Congress
in October 2006. The organization is also making a number
of special program contributions to EXPO including an
education and training program, a Leisure Innovation
Prize competition, and a program of research involving
two major international projects: A consensus study
designed to determine the significance if leisure in
social, cultural and economic development and a study
of leisure life styles and constraints to leisure involvement.
World Leisure is also involved in developing interest
in the 100 Cities Exhibition. |
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The City of Hangzhou and surrounding
communities are blessed with an infrastructure conducive
to convening large scale events. Most of the 2006 EXPO
activities will take place at the World Leisure EXPO
Gardens now under construction at a cost of nearly $US
1 billion. Also under construction at a nearby location
is the World Leisure Folk Garden. The third major venue
will be the Oriental Cultural Park, which celebrates
the major religions of Asia. |
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