The 23rd World Orchid Conference (WOC), affectionately dubbed the “Orchid Olympics,” was co-hosted alongside the 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS) at the International Conference Center Tainan (ICC Tainan) and the Taiwan Orchid Technology Park in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City. Running from February 24 to March 10, 2024, these landmark dual international orchid expos were organized by the Tainan City Government with sponsorship from the central government of Taiwan.
The two events aim to help Taiwan’s orchid industry go international and create more development opportunities as part of the city’s efforts to promote its agricultural and farm products. Themed “Orchid Together (婆娑之蘭舞動世界),” the dual orchid expos featured five pavilions and six zones showcasing Taiwan’s orchid conservation, history, and culture, academic research, and applications in daily life.
Please watch the following video for more exciting images of the 23rd World Orchid Conference and the 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show.
The 23rd World Orchid Conference (WOC)
It has been 70 years since the first World Orchid Conference (WOC) was held in 1954 in Missouri, USA. After 12 years of efforts, this important international horticultural event was finally held in Tainan for the first time.
With 107 sessions, this year’s conference covered 11 diverse themes, including conservation and preservation, orchid technology, and life applications. Moreover, 107 scholars, experts, and professionals participated, with 23 hailing from Taiwan and 84 from various countries around the globe, contributing their invaluable experiences and insights.
(Image: Julia Fu via Nspirement)
The competition of the 23rd World Orchid Conference
The competition was divided into two categories: the individual flower competition and the landscape competition. It garnered over 1,500 entries and was adjudicated by a groundbreaking judging system consisting of 200 judges, including approximately 60 from overseas, marking the first-ever international panel of its kind.
After a fierce competition, the grand champion was an orchid of Rhy. Chorchalood(狐貍尾蘭/佳佳樂). It is a magnificent orchid with 30 stems of flowers falling like a stream of clouds and waterfalls.
In addition, the “Five-Star Admiral” (五星上將), the winner of the Phalaenopsis (蝴蝶蘭組) category, stunned the audience with over 90 flowers on five stems and 15 buds. As for the winner of the Best Native Species Orchid category, it had long branches growing neatly downward like the long tail of a phoenix, with 1,836 flowers on a stem over 150 centimeters long.
Moreover, the winner of the Dendrobium White Grace “Sato” (石斛蘭組) category produced over 700 pure and elegant flowers on 48 stems. Besides, the winners of the Cattleya mossiae Rhyncholaeliocattleya Duh’s Pure Love “Angel Song” (嘉德麗亞蘭組) category and the Paph. Prince Edward of York (仙履蘭組) category was also very impressive.
The Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS)
Taiwan is home to more than 5,000 species of orchids, with one in three of the world’s orchids coming from Taiwan. Half of them are grown in Tainan, making this small country a significant contributor to the international orchid market.
The Taiwan International Orchid Show has been held annually for the past 20 years. It is one of the top three orchid shows in the world, along with the Tokyo Orchid Show and the World Orchid Show. In recent years, TIOS has expanded Taiwan’s orchid distribution channels and brand awareness through active international exchanges organized by the Taiwan Orchid Marketing Association (TOMA).
Characteristics of the dual orchid expos
The floral extravaganzas are unique as they were synchronized with the 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival and coincide with the quadricentennial of the founding of this historic city in 1624.
One of the highlights of the dual orchid expos is their beautiful Flag Orchid Wall, which is composed of orchids spray-painted with the images of the national flags of 62 participating countries.
To promote the twin orchid expos, the organizers introduced “Orchidsaur” as the official mascot for this year’s events, drawing inspiration from the coexistence of orchids and dinosaurs in ancient times. Positioned directly across from the entrance, visitors were greeted by a 19-meter tall eight-legged “Orchidsaur” alongside its companion, the Plesiosaur.
The exhibition spotlighted Taiwan’s orchid conservation, history, research, and applications and showcased the city’s rich culture, myths, gastronomy, and architecture spanning four centuries.
Achievement of the dual orchid expos
According to the statistics released by the organizer, the dual orchid expos attracted 62 countries to participate, with the number of visitors exceeding 350,000. The total value of export orders for the next 3-5 years can be over NT$11.5 billion (US$383 million), a 20-year record high.
for this year’s World Orchid Conference. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement).
These remarkable turnouts underscore the universal appeal and significance of orchids as a symbol of beauty and cultural richness and the public’s keen interest in exploring the diverse array of orchid species on display at the expos. In addition, the influx of export orders signifies the global recognition of Taiwan’s expertise in orchid cultivation. It underscores the country’s position as a leading player in the international floral market.
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