The 5th International Symposium on the Family of Zingiberaceae was opened in XTBG on July 6, 2009. Dr. Li Qingjun, as Chinese president, and Dr. W. John Kress from Smithsonian Institution, U.S., as foreign president, presided the opening ceremony together. Lieutenant Governor of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture Tang Jiahua and Director of XTBG Dr. Chen Jin, delivered the opening remarks. Prof. Wu Delin from South China Botanical Garden, CAS, Dr. John Kress and Dr. Li Qingjun gave scientific presentations in the opening ceremony. There will be another 12 internationally known scholars giving invitational presentations, and 47 scholars giving special reports. Moreover, the symposium has collected 46 research posters from home and abroad.

There're 124 scholars from 14 countries attending this symposium, which will last 4 days and end on July 9. The symposium will focus on genealogy & molecular biology, horticulture, phytochemistry & ethnobotany, anatomy & cytology, physiology & ecology and diversity, etc, of  Zingiberaceae plants.