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THE China Pavilion
The best! We loved the giant scroll, the ride (Dialogue) , the short avp, the exhibits, the garden. But be prepared for the long lines!We were a group of 10. My entire caboodle of 5 adults and 2 kids (less Shelly who is in Sydney), and my friend's family of 3 . With 3 days to "waste" at the Expo, we tried to "structure" our visit into :
Asia, Middle East and the Pacific for Day 1, then Europe for Day 2 and the Americas for Day 3. Naturally, we all agreed to dedicate our last day for shopping. Each day started with a very late breakfast, off to the Expo site via metro by noon, a very late lunch (when others are done with it, to avoid the lines) and making our way home by 8pm or so. Dinner can be anywhere, but each opportunity to savor good food never ever wasted!
Flight from Manila to Shanghai
We took the 8:20pm flight of Cebu Pacific out of Manila, arriving just before midnight in Shanghai. No meals, no frills, to the great disappointment of the kids in our group. This is the same budget flight we took the last time we went to Shanghai , so we know better this time around. We got to the airport early enough
China + Nepal Pavilions
A pity we weren't able to get inside the Nepal Pav. The long line discouraged us. Besides, we were just too eager to get inside the Saudi Arabia Pav right across it. to enjoy a proper dinner at this Italian restaurant inside the terminal, so we heard no complaints from the kids while on flight. 😊 With 10 of us comprising a group, my friend Mario arranged to take us on a van to bring us to Shama, our residence for the next 5 days.
Shama Xujiahui is a serviced apartment in the Xuhui District - good location, relatively new, with 3 bedrooms , a spacious living and dining room, and a kitchen and laundry area. Reasonably priced too at RMB 1,095. Only 6 of us stayed in the serviced apartment, the other 4 (including the 2 kids) stayed with my friends Mario and Weng in their condominium unit . With the pantry stocked good (thanks, my friends) with bottled water, juices, eggs, ham, bacon, bread, cheese, butter, and brace yourself.......chinese foie gras, we felt "secure". 😱
The Impressive China Pavilion
Two metro rides and we reached the main entrance of the Expo Site. Sounds easy? Yeah, but be sure to wear real comfy shoes as it is still a long walk to get through the gates and to the pavilions.
As we entered,
A Giant Animated Chinese Scroll
I was so amazed with this. Watch this "animated version" of a chinese scroll at the Chinese Pavilion. looming in the background is the impressive China Pavilion where a long line snaked all around it. We decided to walk past it and visit the other Asian pavilions first. But call me excited, I do want to talk about the China pavilion FIRST.
The architecture of the China National Pavilion is one for the books in all its redness and magnificence.
The unique structure boasts of traditional chinese timber structures sans nails , held together atop 4 massive stilts allowing passersby through the pavilion! Traditional in design, but very modern and eco-friendly architecture as we soon found out. There were solar cells on the rooftop and a rain water collecting system to recycle water for use in the garden inside the pavilion. This impressive "Forbidden City red" structure is the banner photo of the Shanghai Expo 2010 and serves as the main exhibition hall for the Expo with the theme "Better City, Better Life".
Inside, we were first taken to the theater where a short film about a family of 3 generations traced China's progress . Indeed, China has come a long way. The collage of photos revealed how the old blended with the
Still Inside the China Pavilion
Tired legs and all, it was a pleasant ride inside the pavilion. new and modern. Old, typical Chinese structures looming in the background as new skycrapers -- the new Shanghai "Manhattan" -- sprouted all around. This is my 4th trip to Shanghai in 2 years, and I am still amazed by shanghai's skyline . It's like the architects were given free rein to design their buildings without heed for cost. Beautiful, yet functional structures. The Chinese certainly know the value of aesthetics in everything.
Then we strolled from the theater to a gallery showing a
giant Chinese silk scroll. Initially, it all looked just what I said -- a giant scroll. Until we learned it was animated! Those characters rowing their small boats, walking around the villages, checking their wares, climbing stairs, combing their hair, opening house windows, etc. We were simply bowled over. Just as our adrenaline hits high notes, we were treated to another short film showing how modern amenities in an urban setting can improve the quality of living in a city. In the area of agriculture, there were exhibits of super miracle rice varieties growing so tall I was reminded of "Jack and the Beanstalk". We were in for more surprises as we took a ride
-- yes a ride -- to view lights and sounds of old and modern china (The Dialogue) . It was a good break from all the walking as we got seated for the next 5 minutes. From there, we strolled past exhibits of China's version of "smart cars" as well as the garden itself! I thought then that if a day pass in this World Expo gets one to just spend the whole day in the China Pavilion, it would still be worth your while. On the way out, we passed paintings done by kids aged as young as 8, depicting their dreams of the future. By the time we rode the escalator down to the ventilated atrium, we took time to sit it out in the nearby Chinese garden which amazingly elicited serenity and harmony after all that excitement in the past hour or so.
The Rest of Asia, Middle East and the Pacific
We checked out the
Thai Pavilion where we saw many groups of chinese kids in their uniforms lining up to get in. Getting in and made to stand around a small pool was a refreshing respite from the heat
India + Saudi Arabia Pavilions
India looks like a gardened dome while Saudi Arabia looks like a flying saucer from space. Right across it is the Nepal Pavilion. outside. Lovely, colorful images reflected on the pool made for a great introduction for the kids to learn about Thai culture and civilization. Like one of the kids was surprised to learn there is a Thai King!!! The 3D film was also such a hit with the kids, and may have raised the bar in so far as expectations go. The film was Disney-like complete with "drizzle effects".
From the Thai Pavilion, we visited the
Philippine Pavilion. Naturally, the kids felt so at home here. Our 10 year old boy Martin couldn't resist having his fried rice and barbecued pork here. I was tempted to order a cup of our local brew too, but then the kids rule in this place, so......
Right across the Philippine Pavilion is the
Singapore Pavilion. As soon as we got in, we were made to "march" in circles all the way to the top. I had to admit I wasn't excited with that. But the rooftop garden of orchids was truly lovely.
After that roundabout in Singapore Pavilion, we skipped
Indonesia as soon as we learned we had to go around to the top too. We also walked
The Philippine Pavilion
Inside you can try our coffee bar and "hilot" (local massage), as well as some native products. past Vietnam. Instead, we checked out Malaysia and Cambodia.
Malaysia had photo ops with the image of Petronas Towers , as well as some of its famous beach resorts, while
Cambodia had Angkor Wat for its theme. We saw many Japanese tourists bowled over by the many gems like emeralds and rubies on sale in the pavilion's souvenir store.
Too bad we couldn't get in at the
Nepal Pavilion. I have been to Kathmandu and admired their architecture and culture. The facade of the Nepal Pav transports one back to the land of temples, mountain treks and holy men. I would have wanted to introduce the kids to Nepalese culture, but no luck. We weren't lucky with the Australia Pavilion too.
But we got lucky with the
Saudi Arabian Pavilion. Touted as the next best pav, we enjoyed the "slow ride" on a conveyor belt while images flashed all around us --- from the deserts of Saudi Arabia, to the intricate Arabic designs, to oil rigs and wells, veiled women and robed men, ponds teeming with fish, etc. The
India Pavilion makes for a stark contrast to the nearby futuristic design of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion. If
Inside Saudi Arabia Pavilion
Standing on a conveyor belt, viewing all these transports one to arab land. you ask me, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion looks like a flying saucer from outer space, except that it has palm trees adorning its top. As for the
India Pavilion, its unique lawn or garden dome is quite a sight but do be careful standing in line as we did late afternoon, when the water sprinklers were on. We were all disoriented on whether it was raining that sunny afternoon.
If Saudi Arabia Pavilion ranks high with us, the kids give 5 stars to the
Korea Pavilion. And no, it is not because the pav is right next to the kids' favorite KFC food outlet. Korea built a huge pav here, complete with interactive games and a short film which reminded us of the many Korean soap on tv many Filipinos have grown accustomed to. Ultra modern in approach, the short film is a good excuse as basis for a sequel to Superman, Asian version. Holograms? Cyber friends? Don't ask me. But we had a good time there. The kids even reminded us that the next World Expo will be in Yeosu, Korea in 2012, and the bigger one in Milan 2015. Oh my. The things that do matter
Inside India Pavilion
Right beside the Saudi Arabia Pavillion. It's that round dome with a manicured garden on top. While in line, the water sprinkler was on--- so many of those in line got wet! to them..........
The
Oman, Israel and Pakistan Pavilions all look marvelous with Oman's boat shaped structure, the snail-like (according to the kids) shape of the Israel Pav and the temple palace structure of the Pakistan Pav. But there was just no time to visit all these. Aaaah. . . . there is just a ton of pavilions here that it is easy to feel cheated missing out on many of them.
New Zealand Pavilion invited a lot of attention by the time we strolled past it. They had a cultural presentation and that caught the kids' interest. Asked to explain, I can only go as far as saying that the aboriginal dance is their version of our local "ati-atihan" and the tahitian dance. Shame on me! This was also an "ice cream stop" for us, as the kids began counting off the "visas" they got stamped on their "passports" --- China, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia.
Watching out for the red China Pav and the Expo Axis (which all look like lab funnels) , we got ready to leave. It was quite a walk towards the exit gate. And it is
New Zealand
The kids enjoyed the show here, plus the ICE CREAM! only the first day 😞 The next 2 days, we do Europe, Americas and Africa. Check out
Shanghai Expo 2010: European Pavilions and
A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the World Expo @Shanghai .
Some useful tips: metro rides cost 4 yuan, a 3 day pass cost 400 yuan, single day pass at 160 yuan. Food? Try KFC, but for nearly the same price, you can feast on Chinese dishes at the Bi Feng Tang. Better still, try mini meals or local snacks from the pavilions you visit. The Cantonese Restaurant is pricey. I have not tried it, but I hear the Korean Resto inside the pavilion is good. And don't forget the ice cream...... 20 yuan at the Canada Pav, cheaper elsewhere. Sofie Mix goes for 15 yuan for 2 ice cream cones, and they're good. Going from Asia/Middle East to Europe and the Americas, take the expo shuttle. Trust me. Unless of course you wish to end the day with jelly legs. 😊
UPDATE: I did have a second shot at the World Expo in July. Added Japan and Indonesia to my list in the Asian Zone. Oh, Australia Pavilion too. Uploaded some photos from inside these pavilions. Go check out my update: The Inside Story: Some Unfinished Business @World Expo in Shanghai Martin @ Sri Lanka
Happy kid..........gao xing!
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iufo@riccionehotels.com
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