February

At a meeting held on Feb 28, Zhang Wenshen, Party chief of Nanyang urged the government departments to fully recognize the significance of hosting the 2019 World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS) Regional Convention, and take the event as an opportunity to promote the city globally. He also called for good planning and organization before the WFRS Regional Convention.

March

The Rose Branch of China Flower Association, Henan Flower Association and Nanyang municipal government held a meeting on March 1 to discuss the preparation for the 2019 WFRS Regional Convention.

April

On April 29, WFRS President Kelvin Trimper and former president Helga Brichet, Zhang Zuoshuang, head of the Rose Branch of China Flower Association (CFA), Zhao Shiwei, WFRS vice president and general secretary of CFA's rose branch, Nanyang mayor Huo Haosheng and deputy mayor Yuan Yongsheng attended a briefing on the progress of the preparatory work for the 2019 WFRS Regional Convention.

Huo extended gratitude to WFRS for its support for Nanyang, adding that people from all walks of life in the city were encouraged to participate in the preparation work.

They will build a group of rose parks, gardens and towns, as well as a long rose flower corridor. A research institute, a testing center for rose species and a gene pool will be launched to promote the production, processing and sales of roses and generate more ecological, economic and social benefits, according to Huo.

In addition, the schedule and a to-do list for the key tasks were also released during the meeting.

May

On May 12，local officials drafted the compensation mechanism to the residents living near the city's urban and rural integration demonstration area -- the Nanyang Rose Park and its supporting facilities in surrounding villages. Currently, the resettlement program is progressing well. 

The blueprint of the three venues for the 2019 WFRS Regional Convention -- the Nanyang Rose Park (the main venue), Binhe Rose Garden and Lanhu Lake Rose Garden (two sub-venues) has been preliminarily rolled out.

The Nanyang Rose Park covers an area of 1,543 mu (102.87 hectares) and has a garden planted with Chinese rose species, an exhibition garden for cities taking roses as the flower of the city, an international rose garden, an ancient rose garden and a rose culture garden.

Binhe Rose Garden covers an area of 300 mu and was built to display the application of rose in landscaping and promoting the city's tourism.

Lanhu Lake Rose Garden covers approximately 200 mu. It has positioned itself as an ecological and experience-oriented garden featuring rose breeding, gardening and sightseeing. Visitors can plant roses in a designated area in the garden.