4. Guangyun Entrance

The Guangyun Entrance, located at the north-east part of the exposition site, is the main entrance of the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi’an, and it crosses the 60-meter wide Expo Avenue. The avenue can hold as many as 20,000 passengers during peak hours. The ramp is made up of water features and square flowers gardens, with horticulture features paving the way from the highest end to the lowest end, well-integrating with the Chang’an Flower Valley. This magnificent design makes a great impression.

Design theme: The design of the pedestrian bridge across the Expo Avenue is based on the theme of the Xi’an International Horticultural Exposition. In designing the general planar layout, the first step is to design the moving line of people from the parking lot, with the two separate routes for people in and out of the Exposition site. There are two 18-meter wide walkways leading to the Exposition site and one 15-meter wide walkway to the exit.

Brief introduction: As the starting point of the whole Exposition site, the entrance integrates the design elements representing the color of green horticulture such as plants and waterscape. There is a plant rack on the bridge, so the green plants are able to creep along the rack which functions as a shade and frame for the vertical greening. In addition to meeting the use requirement, the architectural design also fully considers the requirements of the disabled for passing the bridge.

Highlight: The architectural structure is reinforced concrete, but the materials such as the natural wood and granite from different regions have been chosen as the ornament featuring the Chinese elements.