The 2014 International Horticultural Exposition Qingdao starts a series of publicity measures this month including an agreement with a children painting competition.

The children's painting competition is held from July to September this year to encourage youngsters to express their passion for the Expo.

The competition is divided into two groups: for children under the age of twelve and children ages twelve to sixteen.

Each group will produce five gold awards, ten silver awards, twenty brown awards and several awards of Excellency.

With a theme of 'From the Earth, for the Earth,' the expo will run from April to October, 2014.

Qingdao, a coastal city of Shandong province, was approved to host the 2014 International Horticultural Exposition on Sept. 15, 2009.