Drones display the theme slogan, "Blossom with a Chinese Dream" at the 10th China Flower Expo on May 21, 2021. [Photo by Wu Zhongheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

With 1,500 drones lighting up the night sky with designs such as a huge magnolia, narcissus and butterflies for 17 minutes on Friday evening, the 10th China Flower Expo in Chongming in Shanghai concluded its first opening day.

More than 20,000 people visited the expo after it opened the gate at 1 pm. According to the organizing committee, about 77 percent of visitors came on expo bus and charter coaches while the rest drove cars or used other transportation.

Running through July 2, this year's expo has 189 exhibitors, the largest number in the expo's history, and a total of 3,500 volunteers from 20 universities in Shanghai will be serving 3 million visitors expected in the coming months.

Starting on Saturday, the expo will be open from 9 am to 9 pm every day, and people will be able to appreciate tens of thousands of flowers in gardens and exhibition halls scattered in the huge expo park and the Dongping National Forrest Park on Chongming Island.

The 8th China Flower Trade Fair will hold three sessions along with the expo from Saturday to May 29, June 5-13 and June 19-27.

About 400 horticulture companies from 19 cities and provinces will be selling various flowers, seeds, plants, seedlings and gardening tools at the fair.

The price for an expo ticket is 120 yuan on weekdays and 180 yuan on weekends, June 24 of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday and July 1 of the anniversary of the Communist Party of China.

Admission is free to children younger than 6 or under 1.3 meters, and students, military, disabled persons and seniors aged 60 and older get a 30 percent discount.

Tickets can be purchased on the expo's official website and WeChat account or at travel agencies. The ticket hotline is 400-100-0701. Reservations need to be made at least one day before a visit.