Visitors to the Beijing International Flower Port will be welcomed by a sea of tulips throughout the May Day holiday, with 86 varieties imported from the Netherlands on show at a special gala. Provided to China Daily

Any plans for the Labor Day weekend? How about wandering through a sea of tulips? About three million of the colorful flowers - 86 varieties - imported from the Netherlands will be on show throughout the holiday at the 2011 Beijing Tulip Cultural Gala.

"Now is the best time to appreciate the flowers as they are in full bloom," said Li Zaidong, investment and development manager for Beijing International Flower Port, which will host the gala until May 15. "People don't have to go to the Netherlands - they can enjoy exotic flowers at home."

Organizers expect the Gala to attract up to 500,000 visitors. As well as the grand outdoor show, there are themed gardens designed to represent Chinese and Dutch culture, including Peking Opera masks as well as Dutch windmills and wooden clogs, while there will also be demonstrations of advanced techniques, including soilless planting.

The indoor exhibition area will hold China's second lily flower show, where more than 200,000 lilies, including 120 varieties, will greet visitors in full bloom.

"We have attached great importance to international cooperation," said Zhao Shantao, director of the port's administration committee. "We cooperate with four renowned Dutch flower companies for imports and technical exchanges. We're also in talks with several international flower enterprises from Japan and France."

The three million tulips account for roughly one-fifth of the country's total imports in a year, he said, adding that the port is looking to export Chinese flowers in the future.

China's flower imports hit $102 million last year, up 15 percent on 2009, according to figures from the General Administration of Customs. Exports also rose 8 percent year-on-year to $196 million.

Covering 4 square kilometers in Shunyi district, the port is the capital's biggest flower industry park and involves a total investment of 1.8 billion yuan. The area is divided into four areas for facility production, exhibiting new flowers and technologies, complementary service and sightseeing.