Expo 2010

On the eve of the 43rd anniversary of Expo 67, the city of Shanghai, China is busy preparing for its own turn to play host to the world.

Expo 2010 is a BIE registered event, in the grand tradition of world's fairs and international exhibitions, running from May 1 to October 31, 2010.

Expo 2010's logo and theme.

The fair's logo features the Chinese character 世 (meaning "world") modified to represent three people together with the 2010 date. The overall theme "Better City, Better Life" seeks to explore solutions to the problems facing modern cities. Different sub-themes examine urban strategies, policy making, and sustainable development:

• Blending of diverse cultures in the city

• Economic prosperity in the city

• Innovations of science and technology in the city

• Remodelling of communities in the city

• Interactions between urban and rural areas

Expo Axis is the world's largest membrane roof. It spans Expo Boulevard.

Over 190 countries and 50 international organizations are participating in Shanghai's Expo 2010, with an expected attendance of 70 million visitors (Expo 67 had just over 50 million).

The 5 zones of Expo 2010.

The Expo 2010 site covers a total of 5.28 square kilometers and is divided into 5 zones: 3 on the eastern bank of the Huangpu river (in the Pudong district with the famous skyline of modern Shanghai) and 2 on the western bank (in the Puxi district, close to the old city center).

• Zone A is where the Chinese Government and Chinese provinces' pavilions are located, as well as other Asian and Middle-Eastern nations.

• Zone B contains the pavilions of Southeast Asia and Oceania as well as theme pavilions, international organisations' pavilions, Expo Center, Expo Park and the Performing Art Center.

• Zone C encompasses the pavilions of the European nations and the Americas, as well as the African and Carribean pavilions. The Canadian pavilion is located in Zone C.

• Zone D is comprised of corporate and industrial pavilions, as well as the World Expo Museum, a pavilion that pays homage to the history of world's fairs and exhibitions.

• Zone E includes the the Chinese shipbuilding industries' and other private enterprises' pavilions, as well as the "Communication & Information" and "Space" pavilions.

Click here for the complete list of pavilions at Expo 2010, zone by zone.

China chose the traditional Dougong style to reflect "Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development".

The music-box-like Singapore pavilion represents its "Urban Symphony" theme.

Israel discusses "Innovation for Better Life" in a seashell-like structure.

The United Arab Emirates pavilion is a huge golden sand dune, inspired by the country's desert.

The United Kingdom explores "Building on the Past, Shaping our Future" with its sparkling Seed Cathedral.

Romania's "green apple" is inspired by the country's most popular fruit, meant to represent sustainable ("green") development.

Canada's pavilion is C-shaped. Its theme is "The Living City: Inclusive, Sustainable, Creative".

Italy's modular pavilion showcases "City of Man" and houses an Italian mini-city.

The African pavilion will present the exotic landscape of Africa, highlighting its long history of civilization and its vigor and vitality in modern times.

The Poland pavilion combines modernity and folk art to represent its creativity and imagination.

Germany's "Balancity" is a magnificent crystallization of Germanic originality and technology.

World Expo Museum is dedicated to the history of world's fairs and exhibitions.

The Space pavilion looks like a "magic cube" suspended in space.

•••

When I started this blog 4 years ago, I didn't know where my passion would eventually lead me.

I am thrilled to announce that from May 8th to the 23rd, I will be in Shanghai, China to visit Expo 2010...!

I will finally experience a world exhibition, first hand.

Part of what made Expo in 1967 so special was Canada's coming of age in the 1960's. China is currently experiencing that same sort of global emergence, which will no doubt be reflected in their own world happening...

images sourced from flickr.com. "Australia" montage by author.