On February 18, a seminar on the reformation scheme of the Chinese Rose Garden was held in Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. The garden's deputy director Huang Weichang hosted the meeting which was attended by the director Hu Yonghong and other relevant professionals.

After analyzing the shortcomings of the present Chinese Rose Garden, Hu Yonghong proposed a plan to build a more beautiful garden with a deeper significance over the next two or three years. He also used pencil and paper to demonstrate his ideas to his staff. The design team subsequently discussed their leaders' ideas with the experts and attendees from the Horticulture Department.