The 32nd Guangzhou Garden Expo (Autumn Session) is being held in Guangzhou until December 15, showcasing the city’s latest innovations in ecological renewal and public space design.
The 32nd Guangzhou Garden Expo (Autumn Session) opened on October 30, 2025, in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Photo: Lin Yuanxuan)
Opened on October 30, this year’s expo coincides with the upcoming 15th National Games of China, along with the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in November. Together, they highlight new trends in urban sustainability and the integration of sportsmanship into city landscapes.
Organizers said the expo features 38 themed gardens and 64 floral art installations, inviting visitors to “see nature extended into the city” and experience the distinctive charm of Guangzhou — known as the Millennial Flower City.
Within the exhibition grounds, landscape architects from Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and China present seven international gardens that reinterpret the relationship between humans and nature through their unique cultural perspectives.
German designer Till Rehwaldt introduced his work “Garden of Gardens — Whispers of the Wäldchen,” a triptych installation that leads visitors from ancient woods to a future living garden. He expressed hope that people will reflect on the distance between humans and nature as they walk through the space.
“The Garden of Gardens — Whispers of the Wäldchen,” by Till Rehwaldt, Germany (Photo: Lin Yuanxuan)
Canadian landscape artist Micheline Clouard described her piece “Rhythms of Nature” as a metaphor for motion, where structure and vegetation interact to bring the landscape to life. She stated that her approach is meant to awaken what she calls the “forgotten dialogue between humans and nature.”
“Rhythms of Nature,” by Micheline Clouard, Canada (Photo: Lin Yuanxuan)
Italian designer Valerio Morabito said his inspiration came from the banyan trees he observed years ago along Guangzhou’s streets. Their energy, he noted, left a deep impression on him. His garden, he explained, is “like a tree dedicated to Guangzhou — its branches stretching outward, its roots grounded deep — symbolizing the bond between Italian and Chinese cultures.”
“Weaving Guangzhou,” by Valerio Morabito, Italy (Photo: Lin Yuanxuan)
One of the expo’s highlights is the National Games Garden, which blends the spirit of sport with landscape design. Designer Du Aiheng stated that the garden combines elements from the eight cities that have hosted the National Games, using greenery to evoke shared memories of past events. Its eco-dome embodies the Games’ low-carbon and sustainable principles, offering visitors what Du described as a “forest lounge.”
Innovation and sustainability are recurring themes this year. The “Light of Life” Pavilion, also known as the Darkroom Greenhouse, features bioluminescent plants that glow naturally through biological processes rather than electricity.
“Light of Life” Pavilion, Darkroom Greenhouse (Photo: Lin Yuanxuan)
Meanwhile, the “Five Elements Medicinal Garden” integrates traditional Chinese medicine with environmental education, exploring the connection between health and the natural world.
Over the course of the expo, more than 1,400 cultural and recreational activities — from floral exhibitions and concerts to community nature classes — will be held across Guangzhou’s parks and scenic spots, drawing an expected audience of millions.
In September 2025, Guangzhou was selected as a “Cities with Nature” member under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, recognizing its efforts to merge urban regeneration with ecological aesthetics. The city continues to explore a central question: how can nature once again become an integral part of urban life?
“Le Jardin de la Raison et l’Extase,” by Michel Hossler, France (Photo: Lin Yuanxuan)
“Guangzhou is inviting nature to redefine the city,” said French designer Michel Hossler, another participant at the expo.
Reporter | Liu Xiaodi
Correspondent | Lin Yuanxuan
Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
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