BEIJING — Twenty years on from its first appearance, the International Horticultural Exposition has again put Yunnan under the spotlight, with the initiation of "Yunnan Day" at the Beijing Horticultural Expo.

The event, with dance and music performances presenting the culture of Yunnan province, kicked off on Aug 11 and will last for three days.

The Yunnan Garden, with the theme of "Colorful Yunnan, Beautiful Home," shows the province's typical architecture, scenery, landscape and plant life.

A three-meter-tall peacock made of dried flowers and cymbidium, a kind of orchid, has drawn the attention of tourists.

Local specialties such as tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables and intangible cultural heritage including embroidery and folk costumes are being displayed at the event.

"In 1999, the International Horticultural Exposition was held in Kunming (Yunnan's capital) and now we again gather at the Beijing Horticultural Expo at the foot of the Great Wall," said Ren Zhizhong, head of the provincial bureau of forestry and grassland. "We hope to present what Yunnan has accomplished over the years and sincerely invite people from across the globe to travel and invest in Yunnan."

The Beijing Horticultural Expo, themed "Live Green, Live Better," is the world's largest expo of its kind. It opened to the public on April 29 in Yanqing district and will last until Oct 7.