Expo 2010 Shanghai China

Better City Better Life

World Expo 2010 Shanghai is a scheduled World Expo in the tradition of international fairs and expositions and will be held in Shanghai, China from May 1st to October 31st, 2010.

China Pavilion

Pavilion Preview

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Pavilion Features
The main structure of the China Pavilion, "The Crown of the East," has a distinctive roof, made of traditional dougong or brackets, which date back more than 2,000 years. The dougong style features wooden brackets fixed layer upon layer between the top of a column and a crossbeam. This unique structural component of interlocking wooden brackets is one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture. Dougong was widely used in the Spring and Autumn Period

Expo 2010 Shanghai Theme:

World Expos began promoting special themes since Chicago started the trend in 1933. The theme for the 2010 China Expo is “Better City, Better Life.” The urban focused theme, aims to promote sustainable and harmonious living in the world’s cities.

Strategic and sustainable development has become a central concern of the international community, especially since the United Nations predicts that 55% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2010. Since the goal of World Expos in general is to promote the exchange of ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, the 2010 Shanghai Expo will create blue prints for future cities and provide an educational platform for the people of the world.

Location and Shanghai Expo Site:

There are many reasons why Shanghai was chosen as 2010 World Expo site. First and foremost, Shanghai is the most prosperous international metropolis in China. Known as the “Pearl of the Orient” or “the Paris of the East”, Shanghai is known throughout the world for its modern urban construction and high-tech infrastructure.

However, equally important is the fact that Shanghai is a great city to visit. Shanghai has an allure that other cities in China simply lack. Perhaps it is the fact that it is a melting pot between East and West, old and new. Or maybe it’s the lingering charm of the French and German influence on Shanghai’s cityscape. Either way, Shanghai’s countless shops, restaurants, cafes, buzzing nightlife and world class event venues, continuously attracts millions of overseas visitors every year.

Saudi Pavilion

Saudi Arabia plans something a little different for its World Expo 2010 pavilion.

They will plant 150 date palms, which are common in the desert country, on the roof of their pavilion.

The trees were transplanted to Zhejiang Province and will be replanted on the roof of Saudi Arabia Pavilion as soon as construction is finished.

So far 200 million yuan (US$29.3 million) has been spent on the pavilion, which is now 20 percent complete.

Danish Pavilion

The Little Mermaid statue is one of Denmark's major tourist attractions and sits on a rock in Copenhagen harbor. The winning team behind the design of the pavilion hopes to bring it to Shanghai.

Carsten Boyer Thogersen, Denmark's Shanghai consul general, yesterday said he is confident that the statue will make the journey to Shanghai.

The pavilion, called "Welfairytales" -- a blend of the words "welfare" and "fairy tales" - will also feature a salt water pool filled with water from the Danish harbor. The mermaid is expected to make its Chinese debut at the pool.

Thogersen said the harbor suffered industrial pollution 20 years ago, but had been purified and now local people even swim at the sea, which is a "good showcase of Denmark's style of sustainability."

Meanwhile, Chinese artists have been invited to submit outstanding sculptures for public display during the six-month Expo event.

One masterpiece will be chosen each month to be go on display at the Expo site.

Belgium-EU Pavilion

The European Commission unveiled its pavilion at Shanghai Expo while a photo exhibition being held at its Brussels-based headquarters on Tuesday, mainly for the officials from the commission and European Parliament.

The European Commission opted for a joint pavilion with Belgium, which will be holding the rotating presidency in the second half of 2010. This shared pavilion is at the center of the so-called " European quarter."

Serge Abou, the EU's ambassador to China, gave an introduction on pavilion at the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition that will last two weeks.

Serge Abou, the EU's ambassador to China, gave an introduction on Belgium-EU pavilion at the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition in Brussels, March 2, 2010.

According to Abou, the Belgium-EU's pavilion is based around the theme of "Intelligent Europe," containing four parts respectively titled "Building Europe," "Open Europe," "Green Europe" and "Living Europe."

Spain Pavilion

Taking the shape of a giant wicker basket, the Spain pavilion will naturally shed a light on the future while commemorating the anicent craftsmanship of both Spanish and Chinese cultures.

"It is really a spectacular building, not only for its size and shape, but also for the dynamic effect created by its 'skin' made of wicker," said Maria Tena, commissioner-general of Spain for the Shanghai Expo.

"The material has deep roots in both China and Spain, and the wicker also calls upon a look to the future without forgetting our traditions."

The only wicker-made structure entered its final stage of construction with workers last week starting the process of placing 8,524 strips of wicker on the exterior of the pavilion.

hen complete, the sandy-colored wicker pieces being strategically strewn will appear in the form of Chinese characters from afar, said the pavilion's architect Benedetta Tagliabue, the head of a Barcelona-based studio.

Known as "The Basket", the structure which has already been credited as one of the most distinguished pavilions in terms of design, will also make Chinese proud as its featured material was produced by natives of Shandong province.