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Published: April 30th 2010
China Pavilion at Shanghai's World Expo-2010
The pride of the World-Expo-2010 in Shanghai is the China Pavilion. It is shaped as an inverted, imperial-red pyramid, also known as the Oriental Crown. It was constructed over a 3 year period at a cost of 1.5 RMB or 200 million Dollars.This past sunny weekend, just before the official opening of the Shanghai World Exposition-2010, I received an invitation to explore the Exposition Grounds along the Huangpu River in the center of Shanghai. It was an experimental "soft opening", to prepare for the official opening on May 1st, 2010.
Countries from every corner of the world will display their treasures of architecture, technology, innovation, style and traditions in exciting, imaginary and dreamy pavilions.
The Expo site is a 5.28 square kilometer zone (some 2.5 square miles) in the shadow of the beautiful Lupo Bridge. All was build from scratch, at a cost of over 45 billion Dollars, to showcase sustainable urban development in accordance with the Expo's "BETTER CITY, BETTER LIFE" theme. It is the very first Expo to be hosted by a "developing" country. The developement cost of the Shanghai World Expo-2010 exceeds the cost of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
I promise you, that every visitor will be amazed by China's development, show-cased in this spectacular Exposition. The Western Countries, now coping with ever greater financial and economic turmoil, should carefully ponder this rapid development of the rising super-power called, CHINA!!
Almost 200 countries and some 50
China's "Oriental Crown" Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo-2010
It took almost 3 years to construct and will remain after the Expo's end and play a new role as a museum. world organizations will display their best for the next 6 months. Official opening is slated for May 1, 2010, and closing is set for October 31, 2010. Shanghai has been building and preparing for this event for more than a decade.
A gigantic and super-modern new Airport Terminal is now operational. I passed throught it only a few months ago, and it by far the best planned airport I have visited in my life's travels.
Many old buildings, including many in the historic Yangpu district, have been torn down and new incredible structures have been sprouting almost overnight, such as the new World Financial Center, one of the 3 tallest building in the world, and "The Cool Docks Complex".
More than a dozen rail- and subway-lines have been added to the "Metro Network" and nearly every street and sidewalk has been given a new "green" look and are decorated with trees and flowers baskets and flower beds. Even the traffic co-ordination is one, that any other Chinese city would envy. Those, who have visited China, you understand what "Chinese City Traffic" is all about.
Shanghai is tired of playing second fiddle to Beijing, especially after Beijing's
The China Pavilion is the largest national pavilion at the Expo-2010.
The exhibitions in the three-story structure will be divided into three sections. "Footprint of the East", "Journey of Wisdom" and "Blossoming City". successful 2008 Olympics. This is Shanghai's opportunity to show the world the new direction of the city, and shine as one of China's greatest jewels.
The first World Expo dates back to London's Crystal Palace in 1851, but Shanghai's presentation of the World Expo-2010 is by far the biggest and most extra-ordinary Expo to date.
For me, it was an exciting surprise, to be one of the first people in China or the world, to enjoy Shanghai's grand presentation, as she showcases herself as one of the premier financial- and commerce-centers of the world.
Two years ago, it was the 2008 Olympics in Beijing which opened China's door to the family of nations. We all remember the spectacular opening-ceremony at the "Birds Nest National Stadium" with astonishment. That event filled the Chinese people with pride and patriotism, and foreign visitors left and returned to their respective countries with their astonishing tales, about the awakening of this still enigmatic powerful country and its world-class capital, Beijing.
And now, two years later, it is the turn of Beijing's rival city, Shanghai, to show-case the economic and technological and social progress of China's 1.4 billion people, and as the
A child offers a welcome-smile near the China Pavilion
Chinese children are so cute and friendly. Parents often encourage them to offer friendly greetings to western visitors. proud host of the world's premier World-Exhibition, held every 4 years in a different country. The last World-Exhibition was held in Japan.
Since the announcement, that Shanghai would become the host city in 2010, this huge megalopolis of over 20 million people has gone through a metamorphosis, and has become one of the most exciting cities in the world. Having visited Shanghai at least a dozen times over the past 4 years, I have seen the progress and rapid changes everywhere in the city. It is a city, no visitor will ever be able to forget.
Though my pre-opening visit to the Shanghai World Expo-2010 only lasted a day (it was called a "soft-opening"), I am already making plans for several more trips to Shanghai during these next months. To truly appreciate the expanse of the facilities, parks and pavilions, it will take at least several weeks to see all the Shanghai Expo-2010 has to offer its amazed visitors.
Several gigantic structures will remain after the Shanghai Expo-2010 closes in the autumn, and sadly, most of the 100 exotic, foreign pavilions will be dismanteled after that time.
But five permanent buildings and exhibition halls will remain
The Lupu Bridge connects the two sides of the Huangpu River.
The Lupu Bridge over-shadows the 2.5 square mile Exposition Park. for Shanghai's future events, conventions and exhibits, and visitors will be able to enjoy the fair-grounds as a park and recreation area long after the Shanghai Expo-2010 closes its gates.
More than 70 million people are expected to visit the city of Shanghai during the next 6 months; a majority of them will be Chinese.
The Shanghai Exposition will be another venue, which will re-enforce the perception and understanding for all the Chinese citizens by the Central Government, that China has emerged as a super-power. All foreign visitors will forever remember the encredible advances this new "World Giant" has been able to make since its opening to the the world, only 30 years ago.
The theme of the Shanghai World Expo-2010 is: "Better City, Better Life", and this theme is expressed in every phase of its construction, from its amazing "green" lay-out, materials, new innovations, and the most up-to-date technology.
It is the first time, that an emerging and "developing" country has been awarded the honor of hosting the World-Exhibition, and the result makes any visitor aware, that this is the presentation and an exhibition of a giant, a super-power.
The cost of the Shanghai
The Expo Axis is the largest single project in the Expo Park.
It is actually an elevated walk way for visitors with 3 levels and is like an half-open building. It will become a landscape boulevard of the city extending the whole width of the park on the Pudong side of the Huangpu River. World-Expo 2010 will far exceed, what China had spent for the Olympics in Beijing only 2 years ago. The result can be appreciated all around Shanghai in spectacular new constructions, colorful and up-dated renovations, innovative architecture, the modern city-transportation system, and in the proud and dignified attitude of every Shanghai citizen.
Once the neglected step-child-city of China, Shanghai has finally emerged as the proudest daughter among all of China's cities.
I hope you will enjoy these first 127 photos of the Shanghai World Expo-2010 on this TravelBlog-site. It is another of my great adventures, teaching and living in China.
The Exposition site is made up of a series of 100 pavilions, purpose-built exhibition spaces, representing many of the participating nations and organizations, and many of them truly "extraordinary" in design. Each pavilion and space will play host to a variety of events and exhibitions.
Pride of this World Exhibition is the China Pavilion, an inverted, imperial-red pyramid known as the Oriental Crown, built at an estimated cost of 1.5 billion RMB ($200 million).
The China Pavilion is one of five structures that will outlive the Expo, the others being the Culture Center, the Theme Pavilion,
The Expo Axis at the Shanghai Expo-2010
The Expo Axis has two underground tiers and ground tier. It combines commercial functions and transportation functions. the Expo Center and the Expo Boulevard, also know as the Expo Axis.
Here is how these five permanent structures are described in the official site-map of the Shanghai World Expo-2010:
CHINA PAVILION:
"With the traditional "DOUQUAN" Bracket and the concept of "nine-folded script", a kind of ancient Chinese calligraphy, the China Pavilion includes all Chinese people's dream for world expositions in the form of its unique architectural style. Its appearance is called the "Oriental Crown", which showcases the spirit and disposition of the Chinese culture. Its design connotation can be summarized as the Oriental Crown, a Prosperous China and the Whole World's Granary."
EXPO CULTURE CENTER:
"The Expo Culture Center is located in the Pudong Part of the Expo Park. It is adjacent to the Huangpu River and the east side of the Expo Axis. The Center is mainly made up of large cental stages, which are supplemented by 18,000 seats and large multi-functional indoor performance pavilions as well as related supporting facilities. The stage can be flexibly adjusted according to the requirements, providing a great stage design space and room for various performances."
EXPO AXIS:
"Located in the central part of Pudong Section of
The Expo Axis at the Shanghai Expo-2010
Two of these cone-shaped glass structures connect the pedestrian boulevard on either end of the park and protect from the sun and the rain. It is an awsome feeling walking below its span. the Expo Park, the Expo Axis is the largest singel project in the Expo Park. The Expo Axis has two underground tiers and a ground tier. It is a half-open building that combines the commercial function and the transportation function. After Expo-2010, the Expo Axis will become a landscape boulevard of the city."
THEME PAVILION:
"The Urbanian Pavilion, Pavilion of City Beijing and Pavilion of Urban Panet are located in Zone B; the Pavilion of Urban Footprint is located in Zone D and the Pavilion of Urban Future in Zone E. The Theme Pavilion in Pudong is designed in line with the concept of "alley" and "tiger window" and the "paper folding" technique. The Theme Pavilion will be a green, energy-saving and environmental pavilion."
EXPO CENTER:
"The Expo Center is located in the costal green land in Zone B. It has an east-west length of 350 meters (about 1,400 ft.) and a south-north width of 140 meters (about 450 ft). As one of the most important pavilions of Expo 2010, the Expo Center will be a celebration and conference center, the press conference center and the forum and event center during Expo 2010."
Most of the
Three men clean the glass of the Expo Axis.
In the center of the Cone of the Expo Axis you notice three men looking down on the visitors, as the clean and check the glass panels. other 100 Pavilions will be dismanteled after the Shanghai Expo-2010 closes its gates, but I hope the photos below will keep them in your imagination. My first visit to the Exposition was short, but I have received several invitations from my friends to visit again, and I have already accepted. It will be wonderful to share more detailed photos in some of the future entries.
Enjoy the 127 photos of this TravelBlog entry. Please, enlarge them for their special details and for greater appreciation. Let me know your thoughts. Perhaps some of you will have to opportunity to visit Shanghai during this season and for this spectacular event, the Shanghai World Expo-2010. You will take away your own impressions of a new and open China and I would love to share them with you.
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I am proud to say, that almost 65,000 people have now visited my TravelBlog, thank you!
Because of that, I am receiving many e-mails, comments, and messages every day. Please excuse, that at times I am slow at answering them. Thank you for your understanding.
*****IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO REMIND YOU, THAT "FACEBOOK" IS NOT ACCESSIBLE IN CHINA.
The Expo Culture Center at the Shanghai Expo-2010
The Expo Culture Center will be one of the five permanent structures remaining at the close of the Shanghai Exposition. MANY OF YOU, ESPECIALLY MY FORMER STUDENTS FROM BOSTON AND MIAMI HAVE SENT ME FRIEND-REQUESTS, TO WHICH I AM NOT ABLE TO RESPOND. PLEASE UNDERSTAND AND I AM VERY SORRY. *****
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Julie
non-member comment
USA Pavillion
USA Pavillion; boring . . . Keep up the blogging!!