EXPOShanghai Newsletter Countdown: 198 days to go www.expo2010.cn Newsletter No. 35, October 15, 2009 Ready for designers CONSTRUCTION was completed on the World Expo 2010 Theme Pavilion on September 28, making it the first of the four pavilions along the site’s central axis to be ready for interior design work. The pavilion features “green walls,” solar cells on the rooftop and what is being billed as the world’s biggest “non-column space.” “We have always focused on ecology and environmen- Stars from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan perform at a concert at the Shanghai tal protection in the design Grand Stage on October 13 to mark the 200-day countdown to the World Expo 2010. and construction of the pavil- ion,” said Dai Liu, President of the Expo Group in charge of construction which was completed in 688 days. The pavilion’s lights were Stars turn out to tested on October 7, adding a splash of color to the site. Dai said the eastern and western exterior walls of the praise Expo 2010 pavilion feature plants. The 5,000-square-meter green STARS from the Chinese main- sent messages of support to Fukuda said he believed the walls will be the largest eco- land, Hong Kong and Taiwan World Expo 2010 Shanghai. Expo would fuel recovery of the logical walls in the world. performed at a concert at the They include Singapore’s vet- world economy. Kissinger said “It will create a great view Shanghai Grand Stage on Oc- eran politician Lee Kuan Yew, it would mirror the friendship both during the day and tober 13 to mark the 200-day former Japanese Prime Minister between the Chinese and US at night under lights,” Dai countdown to the Expo 2010. Yasuo Fukuda, former US Secre- people, while Margaret Chan said. Nearly 40 singers including tary of State Henry Kissinger and said “Better City, Better Life” The roof’s solar energy Andy Lau, Coco Lee and Tsai World Health Organization Di- was in line with the theme of the system was also put into use Chin sang 17 Expo songs se- rector-General Margaret Chan. World Health Day next year. on September 28. It is the lected from about 4,000 from Lee touched on the friendship Domestic contributors include world’s largest rooftop with around the world. Eight stars and cooperation between China Li Yining, Deputy Director of a solar energy system. sang “Smiling Shanghai” for the and Singapore, noting a will- the Economy Commission of The system can generate 2.8 million kilowatt-hours first time to mark the occasion ingness to share experience in the 10th National Committee of per year — enough electricity for the first time. urban planning, environmental the CPPCC, Pei Gang, a Chinese for 2,500 Shanghai families. Many prominent personalities protection and sustainable de- Academy of Sciences professor, from China and overseas have velopment with China. and writer Wang Anyi. Expo Fact To date, 192 countries and 50 international organizations have confi rmed participation. 2 Newsletter No. 35, October 15, 2009 Ceremonial staff sought In Brief THE Expo Organizer has begun expo. People can vote on the web- graduates to assist in operations Ferry starts trial to recruit Expo 2010 ceremonial site to support their candidates. for the event. They will be work- AN Expo ferry had a trial run on staff from university students The candidate information is only ing in the Bureau of Shanghai September 27 on the Huangpu across China. The Organizer will available in Chinese. World Expo Coordination from River in Shanghai. The first four hold lectures at 10 universities in The Organizer launched the na- September to the end of Expo in Expo ferries, each with the capac- seven cities, including Shanghai, tional recruitment drive in June. A October next year. ity to hold 500 passengers, have Beijing and Guangzhou, to en- total of 350 winners will be chosen About 70,000 volunteers will arrived to service the Expo Site. courage undergraduates to apply for the staff pool for Expo events. be recruited to work in the Expo During the Expo 2010, which runs for the positions. The Organizer expected that grounds and another 100,000 for from May 1 to October 31 next The staff will work at various about 50 million prospective candi- the 1,000 or so service centers that year, the ferries will run on five ceremonies during the 184-day dates would submit their interest. will be set up around the city dur- routes to the Expo Site in half-hour Expo Shanghai and promote the The job will last a year and will ing the event, which is expected to intervals of half an hour and mov- event across the country. involve candidates in such activi- attract 70 million visitors. ing 200,000 to 300,000 passengers Candidate photos and back- ties as TV programs, parties and A total of 380 people were se- a day. ground information will be online promotion. Activities will lected from across the world to be featured on http://2010expo.youth. be held in more than 20 cities. ceremonial staff involved in hand- Haibao cartoon cn/zt/09lyxb/index.htm, the of- The Organizer has recruited 130 ing out medals at the 2008 Beijing PRODUCTION started on Sep- ficial recruitment website of the interns from the city’s university Olympics. tember 28 on a cartoon about the World Expo Shanghai mascot Hai- bao, who will show off his martial Iceland set arts skills and embark on a journey exploring Chinese kung fu culture. for hot party Authorities in Henan Province, HARD times and budget cuts home to the famous Shaolin Tem- aside, Iceland is geared up a whiz- ple where kung fu originated, will bang showcase effort for World organize the production. Henan Expo 2010 Shanghai. Daily Group will be responsible Iceland, badly affected by the for the program called “Shaolin global economic crisis, had to Haibao” which will highlight prune its Expo spending by about China’s wisdom and culture. half to US$2 million, the top official for the nation’s Expo par- Pavilion handover ticipation said on September 25. ON September 28, Bernadette The Expo Shanghai Organizer Ganilau, Director of the Pacific on September 25 handed over a Oceania nations joint pavilion, 500-square-meter pavilion space received the key for the 8,100- to Iceland, which the country will square-meter building. The decorate into an “Ice Cube,” simi- pavilion will host exhibitions by lar to China’s National Aquatics Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Center, or Water Cube. Palau, Tonga, Micronesia, Samoa, Iceland was convinced that the Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Solo- Expo would help the country fight mon Islands, Tuvalu, Marshall its way out of economic woes, said Haibao goes national Islands, Nauru and Niue as well Gunnar Gunnarsson, ambassador as the South Pacific Tourism Or- of Iceland and commissioner gen- The distinctive float representing Shanghai Municipality and ganization and the Pacific Islands eral for Iceland for the Expo. featuring Expo icon Haibao takes part in a grand parade for Forum. The pavilion will include a busi- the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the ness center and the theme is “Pure People’s Republic of China in central Beijing on October 1. Tortoises arrive Energy — Healthy Living.” TWO rare giant Aldabra tortoises presented to China by the Sey- Expo Online chelles Republic arrived at Pudong International Airport on September More countries contribute to online experience 29. The pair are a gift to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the found- INDIA, Tajikistan, Cambodia, The Organizer said 31 coun- information, visit http://www.ex- ing of the People’s Republic of Jordan, the Democratic Republic tries will build “experiencing po2010.cn/czsw/wssbh/index.htm China and Shanghai’s hosting of of Congo, Gambia, Libya, Monte- pavilions,” 38 cities will present or contact Chen Xuyan (Tel:8621- World Expo 2010. The tortoises, negro, Liechtenstein, Latvia have their cases of Urban Best Practices 22062079 Email:chenxuyuan@ members of one of the largest spe- become the latest participants of online and 17 corporate pavilions expo2010.gov.cn). The Site offers cies in the world, will be raised at Expo Online, bringing the total have also confirmed their partici- access to “Your Pavilion, Any- the Shanghai Zoo as a symbol of number to 217. pation in Expo Online. For more time, Anywhere!” friendship between the nations. Expo Fact The Organizer expects 50,000 people to visit the China Pavilion every day. Most need to reserve. Newsletter No. 35, October 15, 2009 3 Wonders beneath the red drapes WHEN people see the iconic China Pavilion draped in red cloth and built in the ancient Chinese dougong architectural style at the World Expo Shanghai Site, they will undoubtedly want to know what is exhibited inside the huge and fancy structure. At first glance, the pavilion is very obviously a Chinese struc- ture. When the Chinese red veil is lifted, it will reveal a complex building that celebrates a diverse range of traditional Chinese ele- ments, including architecture, calligraphy, gardening and urban planning. However, the interior will be full of modern elements. Visitors will be able to ride in a cable car, watch a movie directed by young Chinese director Lu Chuan and view a multimedia display of a top An artist’s rendition of a scene inside the China Pavilion where visitors will pass by a giant national treasure painting. projection of the painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” The exhibition will tell a Chi- nese story about a “city” and a will first be taken to the 8,500- another attraction, a massive China’s four great inventions — “search.” The “Search of the East” square-meter section on top of the projection of the painting “Along the compass, paper, printing and theme highlights the wisdom that pavilion by lifts.