Page 12 - BCI Bonsai & Stone Appreciation Q1 2025

A Journey Through Art and Nature
Highlights from the 13th Liuzhou Stone Festival
and BCI Bonsai Invitational
By Dr. Sujata Bhat, India
Top left: Unveiling the plaque
for the BCI Bonsai Industry-
Academia-Research Center.
Top right: Chinese master
creating a gravity-defying
Penjing composition.
Middle left: The author, and BCI
1st Vice President Dr. Sujata
Bhat, with her demonstration
tree, a Podocarpus designed in
a tropical-tree style.
I had the great privilege of being invited as an inter-
national bonsai demonstrator to the 13th Liuzhou
Stone Festival & 1st BCI International Landscape
Bonsai Invitational Exhibition, held in the city of
Liuzhou from October 31 to November 3, 2024.
Guangzhou Baowen Garden & BCI Bonsai
Industry-Academia-Research Base Centre
Before heading to Liuzhou, we attended the grand
opening ceremony of the newly relocated Guangzhou
Baowen Garden & BCI Bonsai Industry-Academia-
Research Base Centre. The bonsai garden was breath-
taking, showcasing spectacular tropical trees like
bougainvillea and podocarpus. This science and hor-
ticulture-based research center dedicated to bonsai is
a much-needed initiative, and I eagerly anticipate the
progress it will achieve.
Journey to Liuzhou
A high-speed train ride transported us to the beautiful
city of Liuzhou. There, the BCI Board held its meetings,
including welcoming newly elected directors Mike
Siow (Malaysia), Pisith Ariyaamornkul (Thailand),
and Peter Macaseb (USA).
The Main Convention
The convention began with a grand opening ceremony
attended by delegates from around the world, including
the USA, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia,
Taiwan, Germany, the UK, and India. The event featured
vibrant local dances and ended with a colorful display
of fireworks lighting up the sky—a truly memorable
experience.
The opening ceremony was followed by the inaugu-
ration of the Liuzhou Stone Museum, which featured
stunning exhibits of landscape and object stones,
including fossils. The museum’s three floors were a
visual feast, showcasing the incredible beauty of local
stones and exhibits brought in from across China.
Judging the landscape exhibits was a challenging but
rewarding task.
Bonsai Demonstrations
The outdoor bonsai demonstrations were another
highlight of the convention. Each demonstrator was
provided with a mature Podocarpus tree. My tree, as
tall as I am, was styled as a tropical bonsai. Working
alongside international demonstrators from various
countries was an enriching experience.
10 | BCI | January/February/March 2025