Building starts on straw house

scene of the ground breaking ceremony

Hong Hao, director-general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

Wang Shi, chairman of Vanke Co.

Construction began yesterday on property developer Vanke's pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

But, rather than showcase its new houses, China's biggest listed real estate developer will urge people with its pavilion to protect nature. And, unlike other Expo pavilions, the Vanke building will gradually decay and lose its glory during the 2010 event.

The facade of the 5,000-square-meter pavilion will be made of wheat straw. The eco-friendly construction material will start out gold in color but will turn yellow and then black by the end of the event.

The color and smell of straw will make people think of nature and the decaying process will show the changes of nature to Expo visitors, said Lu Xiang, the pavilion's chief designer.

The building will comprise seven 18-meter-tall steel structures in the shape of straw piles, which is a common sight in China's farmlands.

The structures will be wrapped in straw and have skylights at the top to allow in the sunshine.

The exhibition will depict a future scenario of humans living harmoniously with nature under the theme "Possibility of Respect."

The pavilion will be called "2049," referring to the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

A board displays Vanke Pavilion at the ceremony

An artist's rendition of Vanke Pavilion

Goteborg mayor learns about Expo updates

scene of the meeting

Anneli Hulthén, the mayor of Goteborg, Sweden, received a briefing this morning about 2010 World Expo preparations at the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, updated Hulthén on the Expo's progress in participation, pavilion construction, forum and event preparation.

He also talked about the two highlights of the Expo - the Urban Best Practices Area and Expo Shanghai Online.

Hulthén raised questions regarding accommodation and traffic as well as the organizer's measures to improve the environment in the run-up to the Expo.

She said she was impressed by the dizzy development of Shanghai and hoped Goteborg and Shanghai will witness ever-lasting friendship as sister cities.

'Peng Peng' chosen as name of Australia's mascot

The winner receives a prize package.

Chen Yue, the winner, takes a photo with Expo 2010 mascot Haibao and Australia's kookaburra.

Chinese people have selected the name "Peng Peng" for Australia's kookaburra mascot for World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

The name "Peng Peng" was announced as the winner today following a two-month long competition. It is a very suitable name for the mascot, said Peter Tesch, the commissioner-general for the Australia Pavilion.

"The character Peng evokes a sentiment of glory and ambition in Chinese and is indicative of our desire for a successful Expo. The name Peng Peng also means friendship and as such conveys the deep people to people and business links that exist between Australia and China."

Peng is a distinctly Chinese name dating back to a mythological bird in Xiao Yao You, a literary work by Zhuangzi, who is an influential Chinese philosopher. Tesch believed Peng is particularly apt as the kookaburra is a native Australian bird."

The competition received more than 2,800 entries.