The 2014 Qingdao International Horticultural Expo, which will officially open on April 25, has launched a cellphone travel guide app to provide visitors with a personalized, interactive experience at the expo's many specialty parks.

"The expo committee is dedicated to providing visitors with a convenient travel experience featuring low-carbon, new materials, interactive and digital technologies with our comprehensive and innovative services," said Li Fengli, secretary-general of the expo's executive committee.

The app is integrated with the online expo tour website. Users can learn about the map and points of interest at the online expo before visiting, setting up a personalized itinerary on the cellphone app.

Tian Deqing, software project manager at the Expo Digital Office, said visitors can download the app by scanning the QR code on the back of their admission tickets or find it on Android and Apple app stores.

"You can get a free Wi-Fi account and password at the expo from the guide map, which will be offered when you enter," Tian said. "Also, visitors can experience 4G mobile Internet at the expo."

The app organizes information such as starting points, favorite parks, must-sees and duration of visit. Users can also book a cable car or electric touring car.

In addition, the app provides five preset itineraries, including a family tour, a panorama tour, a hill hike tour, a tour for photographers and an interactive tour.

Tian said the itineraries are designed to show the concept of humanization in design.

"We recommend that families with children take the cable car, which will take them past several theme parks for kids to have fun, including Paul Frank and Angry Birds," he said.

"If visitors want to get some exercise while touring the expo, they might want to consider the hill hike itinerary."

All the major plants at the expo are labeled with a QR code, which can be scanned by the guide app to allow visitors to read information, including a plant's name, place of origin and characteristics.

To provide a wide range of services, the app could also help visitors find additional facility information such as restaurants, hotels, entertainment and transportation.

The expo spreads across 241 hectares, with seven themed parks - Chinese, Floriculture, Herbs, Dreamkids, Science, Green and International - and five experience parks, including tea-scent, agriculture, a floral world and mountain parks.

The 2014 Qingdao horticulture expo will be held from April 25 to Oct 25 in Baiguoshan Forest Park in the city's Licang district. More than 15 million visitors are expected.

The event is expected to raise Qingdao's profile on the world stage after it hosted the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta.

Liu Xiaoxing contributed to this story.

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(China Daily USA 04/21/2014 page4)