Beijing is ready to plant a number of different flowers that bloom in August.

Experiments have been conducted over the years to ensure Beijing will look its best during the Olympic Games next year.

Normally, August is a bad month for most flowers because of the heat.

"By using advanced technology, Beijing will welcome international visitors with a sea of new flowers," said Xu Jia, science and technology chief of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and Forestation.

New varieties that can withstand high temperatures have been discovered, Xu said.

Horticulturists have been busy selecting seeds and conducting experiments, including shooting seeds into space, to find out if they can survive fluctuating temperatures.

"Not all the experiments were successful in our determination to find the right varieties," said Wang Xiaoping, director of the Beijing forestry department of international cooperation.

More than 1,000 varieties were tested for their adaptability to Beijing's weather.

"We have identified about 500 varieties that will bloom in August," Xu said.

"We have closely examined the introduction of these flowering plants and they conform with environmental regulations. "

The seeds are from the United States, Holland, Japan, Germany, France, Denmark and Britain.

Next month, a display of the flowers will be held at Haidian District Park.

(China Daily 07/03/2007 page5)