The results of the International Orchid Competition at the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu (the Expo) were unveiled on August 16. The thematic competition featured two categories: Domestic Orchid Single Plant and Exotic Orchid Single Plant, with Domestic Orchid further divided into Flower Orchid and Leaf Orchid.

A total of 106 awards were presented after intense competition, including 6 Grand Prizes, 10 Gold Medals, 24 Silver Medals, and 24 Bronze Medals in the Domestic Orchid Single Plant category; and 4 Grand Prizes, 6 Gold Medals, 16 Silver Medals, and 16 Bronze Medals in the Exotic Orchid Single Plant category. Specifically, within the Domestic Orchid Single Plant section, 5 Grand Prizes, 4 Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals, and 18 Bronze Medals went to Flower Orchids, and 1 Grand Prize, 6 Gold Medals, 11 Silver Medals, and 6 Bronze Medals to Leaf Orchids.

According to Zhu Genfa, head of the Orchid Competition Jury, the judging process for the orchid-specific competition at the Expo was conducted jointly by the Orchid Competition Jury and the International Competition Supervisory Committee. A panel of five renowned experts in the orchid field evaluated and scored 470 exhibits of 277 Domestic Orchid Single Plants and 193 Exotic Orchid Single Plants. "Using a 100-point scoring system, we calculated the average score from the judges' evaluations, rounded to two decimal places, and ranked the entries from highest to lowest to determine the winners," he explained.

"China currently boasts the largest orchid production area globally, with the orchid industry's market size approaching RMB100 billion," said Zhu. The competition witnessed enthusiastic participation from orchid enterprises and enthusiasts, who showcased over 400 orchid exhibits, many of which made their debut in domestic competitions. This significantly contributed to the breeding of new orchid varieties, the growth of the orchid industry, and the dissemination of orchid culture.”

Yan Lianhua, Secretary-General of the Orchid Association in Wengyuan County, Guangdong Province, expressed that participating in the competition in Chengdu exposed them to a diverse range of orchid species and provided valuable opportunities for exchange and learning with peers, which will greatly benefit the future development of the orchid industry.