Beijing's Garden Expo is now open to the general public, showcasing the richness and variety of Chinese gardens.

The traditional Chinese garden is recognised the world over. The style, traditionally from Jiangsu Province, is just one of the gardens on display here at the 9th Beijing International Garden Expo.

The lotus hall greets visitors and presents a touch of elegance and tranquillity. Trees, rocks and crystal clear ponds are thoughtfully placed to create a serene image, inviting people to relax.

"I really love the scenery, and I'm really interested in the culture and history behind it. I've just started exploring," a visitor said.

"We had a team of 100 people, all skilled craftsmen, bringing the very best parts of classical gardens from Nanjing and Suzhou here to Beijing," garden supervisor Lu Guohua said.

Traditional pavilions are decorated with Chinese calligraphy and the roofs furnished with mythical creatures from Chinese legends. No wonder many of the original gardens in Jiangsu are registered UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.

The Space Garden is a bold attempt to push the boundaries of modern gardening by bringing in some unusual elements into the equation.

The installations pay tribute to China's latest developments in space technology and allow visitors to have an interactive experience.

"We made scaled down replicas of the latest series of rockets China has launched. Visitors can experience everything about space travel from the inside out," Garden Director Hua Lingcheng said.

The organizers claim that the exhibition is one of the most comprehensive of its kind. It is not just for curious spectators but also for those seeking more information about space travel, from space suits to rocket engines. This multidimensional roll training is designed to see if you've got what it takes to go to space.

(CNTV.cn May 23, 2013)