With the theme of 'Man and nature, we live harmoniously', the 2006 Shenyang International Horticultural Exposition was officially opened its doors to the public on 1 May, and concluded on 31 Oct this year. It has been one of the finest horticultural expositions ever held in China. Flowers and horticultural gardens from 23 foreign countries as well as 53 domestic cities in China have showcased the world a beautiful picture of human living in harmony with the nature. More than 8 million visitors attended the Expo.

As the sole designated official airline of the Expo, China Southern has exerted every effort to support the local government by providing high-quality and convenient air services between Shenyang and other cities. China Southern has not only gained recognition from visitors, but also increased the reputation as a reliable and innovative airline working side-by-side with municipalities.

So, what have been the benefits for China Southern as an airline? Four aspects as listed below:

1. Overall increase of net revenue by 109 million RMB Yuan during the Expo.
2. China Southern has established a close relationship with the local government. Thus, favorable policies have been offered by the local government to further improve the development of China Southern Airlines Northern Branch Company's business operations.
3. China Southern gained remarkable recognition and brand awareness due to its active participation of the Expo's many activities.
4. China Southern sales and customer service staff were being tested for their competence and gained a great opportunity to enhance their skills.

It has been the first time that a specially designated team of China Southern Airlines' staff participated in such a large international event. This helped the team to accumulate new experiences to be better prepared for future events such as the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Shenyang has been a testing ground and we are proud to say that we have passed the test.