BEIJING, June 7 -- Wang Zhaohui, the executive designer of the Shanghai International Flower Festival since 1998, died last Wednesday from pneumonia, aged 36.

    Wang, a six-time medal winner in international and domestic landscape-design competitions, suffered badly from asthma. Shortly before he died he developed pneumonia brought on by his heavy work load during the flower festival in April.

    His condition was aggravated by hay fever and just two days before he died his pneumonia was treated by doctors, though he was not admitted to hospital. On Wednesday, his condition worsened and he tried to drive himself to hospital. He suffered an asthma attack and died with his inhaler in his hand.

    A graduate of the Shanghai Gardens Professional School, Wang won top awards all over the world, including at the Montreal Mosaiculture 2000 Grand Honorary Award. His design - "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl" - featured a rotating sphere surrounded by 12 Chinese astrological signs. The win gave Shanghai its first-ever international landscaping award.

    At his funeral on Monday, mourners said they found it difficult to come to terms with Wang's early death.

    A friend and colleague of Wang for over a decade, Fan Xiaofeng, the spokesman for the festival committee, said he and Wang were supposed to meet up this week.

    "He was the most talented person I've seen so far on this job," said Fan.

    Wang's wife, Chen Fengya, said she knew her husband had been extremely busy with work in the past two months, and his asthma had become worse because of the season and stress. But she said she never expected him to die.

    Chen said that her husband had enjoyed a full life. The whole family used to travel together whenever Wang had free time.

    During the 2006 Shanghai International Flower Festival in April, Wang had worked till midnight, according to Zhang Keming, the vice president of the festival.

    Wang was survived by his wife Chen, and his son, Wang Tianyu, age 9.