May 28th, 2010 Contributed by: Ivette Figueroa

SHANGHAI, PRC — The World Expo 2010, being held from May 1 to Oct. 31 in Shanghai, is an international fair where over 190 countries have set up pavilions showcasing their culture, technology, and future goals for creating a better urban environment.

After winning the bid to host the Expo in 2002, Shanghai began a grand scale facelift to remodel the city. Spending more than $45 billion on upgrading Shanghai’s infrastructure, by adding six new subway lines, refurbishing old buildings, and upgrading the city’s night lights using LED technology, Shanghai  has taken the theme “Better City – Better Life” to heart.

But what can one expect to see in this 184-day long exposition?

The Expo grounds are a staggering 5.3 kilometers in size—the largest out of the 160-year history of the fair. But not to worry, maps are strategically placed throughout the site and a handheld version is available in Chinese or English.

With so much to see, the task of navigating through the grounds can be quite overwhelming.

“It’s too big,” said Bruce Garrison, a University of Miami professor visiting China,  “The decision of what to choose to see in two days is hard.”

Indeed, with over 250 pavilions, 210 restaurants, snack bars and an expansive collection of sculptures on display — Expo 2010 Shanghai is an awe-inspiring achievement.

Culture, Technology, and The Future

This year’s Expo focuses on a mutual exchange of culture, technology, and plans for future development in urban areas.

“We want to use technology to make traditions and modern concepts integrate,” said James Wang, a Shanghai International Studies student who visited the Expo.

Here is a preview of what you can anticipate seeing inside some of the pavilions.

  • This two-layer structure is based on Sichuan’s special landscape.
  • A Famille-rose Landchafts Deer-head Wine Vessel is showcased in the Jiang Xi Pavilion.
  • A traditional Chinese Fu Lion stands guard at the entrance to the Guangdong Pavilion.
  • Yunnan’s pavilion exhibits the beautiful scenery, colorful folk culture and harmonious urban-rural development via multimedia.
  • A visitor to the Canadian Pavilion tests her endurance on the stationary, video interactive bike.
  • The Pacific Pavilion is home to “Pacific Green” and organization dedicated to recycling discarded palms to produce Palmwood as an alternative substitute for forest hardwoods.
  • “I like the fact that they incorporate going Green,” said Helen Xing, a Beijing native. “I hope they incorporate it in Chinese cities.”

Expo: Expectations Met and Disappointed

  • “The people are my least favorite part. I hate line ups” — Helen Xing, 28, Beijing.
  • “We went to the African Pavilion, to be honest, because there wasn’t much of a queue” — Mark Lovett, 50, United Kingdom.
  • “I like the Pacific Pavilion the most so far because there are a lot of things to see and not too much people” — Claudia Malliard, 23, Spain.
  • “My least favorite part are the giant lines” — Kayla Flinn, 21, Canada.

With a gathering of about 70 million people from around the world, it’s easy to imagine that the crowds and long lines are on everyone’s minds. But for those who never make it inside of a pavilion, there are still plenty of interesting things to see.

“I loved looking at the buildings and styles,” said Garrison. “The skin of the buildings—they all had something interesting. I found that to be a visual treat.”

“They have an interesting design, some a little bit off the wall, but I suppose that’s the attraction of it. It’s about individuality, isn’t it?” Lovett said.

Of course, everyone has their own opinions on the Expo’s success.

“I like the Expo because there are a lot of places that I can maybe go visit someday,” said Malliard.

“My own country’s pavilion made me very angry,” said Taoffic Toure, a Mali native studying in Shanghai. “The Expo is about sharing technology and my country’s pavilion only had pictures of Timbuktu.”

“It all seems very clean and well organized and there’s some very interesting pavilions,” said Lovett.

“I was very disappointed,” said Zahira Flores, 18, about the Belize Pavilion. “It was just pictures. There was no technology or culture.”

“I think there is a problem with the theme of this Expo,” Toure said. “It isn’t very clear. Better City-Better Life can be anything.”

Check here to view an audio slide show about the Shanghai Expo 2010 that is narrated by writer and photographer Ivette Figueroa.

Reposted from The China Journalism Project, University of Miami: labs.com.miami.edu/china

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