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9/5/12
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6/30/10
Bollywood grandeur to hit Shanghai
Bollywood is set to showcase the grandeur and extravagance of Bollywood dance and music on July 17 at the Expo Culture Center.
The extravaganza will be wrapped in 90 minutes of dizzy color, high-octane sets, and fabulous sights and sounds of Bollywood in a medley of songs. Performers will wear 200 costumes and 1,000 pieces of jewelry.
The production will blend modern dance, traditional country and festival dance, as well as wedding performances, the highlight of Bollywood movie. It is directed by Shubhra Bhardwaj who specializes in conceptualizing and crafting shows.
Comedy Games to create fun at site
British and Chinese premier young performers will present a 45-minute British slapstick comedy "GB vs China - The Comedy Games" to Expo 2010 visitors in July.
With due deference to Mr Bean, Charlie Chaplin, Monty Python and Benny Hill, the devised show will be presented by 16 actors from London's Central St. Martins College and the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art. It was the result of collaboration between performers of the two countries.
The comedy will be shown twice at the UK Pavilion every day and at Europe Square every evening from July 1 to 16.
Comments have included "It's really stupid" and 'What's so funny about hitting someone with a fish?" "Unmissable," said both Conservative and Labour politicians in a desperate attempt to secure last-minute youth votes.
It is part of a collaborative project in Employability & Entrepreneurship that helps UK and Chinese businesses thrive through the use of theatre skills while boosting employment for theatre-makers.
Denmark celebrates Pavilion Day
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik addresses the ceremony.
Yin Yicui, deputy secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, addresses the ceremony.
Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir performs at the ceremony.
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Yin Yicui, deputy secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, visit the China Pavilion.
Officials pose in front of the Little Mermaid statue.
Denmark celebrates its National Pavilion Day today with music, song and dance. Both Chinese and Danish artists will perform.
Denmark and China have witnessed long-term friendship and Danish government and enterprises have all taken an active part in the 2010 World Expo to make it the most ambitious participation in the country's history, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik said at this morning's ceremony in the Expo Center.
He hoped visitors would appreciate the country's dreamlike scenery and the harmonious co-existence between its people and nature, particularly its practice in green transportation, energy-saving and emission cuts via the pavilion's showcase.
The Little Mermaid's first journey outside of the country signals the hope of furthering the friendly exchange and communication between Denmark and China, he said.
Yin Yicui, deputy secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, said although China and Denmark are far apart, the showcase of the Denmark Pavilion and the celebration of its Pavilion Day provide a chance for visitors to learn more about Danish people, their culture and lifestyle as well as the country's experience in balancing the development of city and nature.
With a theme of "Welfairytales" - combining welfare and fairy tales - stories about modern Denmark feature efforts to create sustainable urban development and welfare solutions.
Zone C showcases a fairytale world with the Little Mermaid, the country's symbolic statue, making its first visit to Shanghai.
Created in 1913 to honor the character created by Hans Christian Andersen, the bronze Little Mermaid usually sits on a stone at the edge of Copenhagen's harbor.
The pavilion is arranged like a fairytale in three chapters: the story of Denmark's cities, the story of its people and the story of Danish technology and solutions for future urban living.
There's a play area for children and the family can enjoy a picnic on the rooftop garden.
Keen crowds defy rain
Frequent showers failed to deter visitors to the Expo site yesterday but umbrellas and flip-flops sold like hot cakes.
More than 450,000 visitors braved the rain to enter the site in numbers similar to sunny days as many people sought to use before they expired the Expo gift pack June tickets distributed by Shanghai government.
Visitors had to walk on tiptoe through pools of water formed at the No. 2 Gate at Xizang Road S. because of a torrential shower at around 9am. Other small pools also formed on roads throughout the site.
Xi Qunfeng, director of the Construction Department of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said the water would drain quickly through the sandy ground.
Visitors are able to receive updated information about the weather by mobile phone messages, site broadcasts and on public screens on site, said Zhang Qing, deputy director of Expo Operation Headquarters.
Site broadcasts yesterday cautioned visitors not to stay on pavilion rooftops during thunderstorms and to keep their distance from tall, tower-shaped buildings, such as the landmarks of various public squares. They also asked visitors to avoid using benches during sudden thunderstorms.
An Expo Licensed Products Office, official said it had asked manufacturers to start making raincoats. He said the office had initially thought such items would not be popular, but now found many visitors wearing disposable raincoats they brought from home.
Flip-flops became the most popular products as many visitors' shoes became soaked after the shower. Some visitors to the Oil Pavilion in the Puxi Expo site carried their wet shoes and walked barefoot in the pavilion.
A souvenir store on Expo Boulevard sold more than 100 pairs of flip-flops before noon yesterday, 25 percent more than sunny days.
The flip-flops were always popular, even in sunny days and especially with ladies wearing high-heel shoes, said store director Zhang Wenqing.
Umbrella sales increased slightly as most local visitors prepared for the weather by bringing one from home, said Gao Wenmao, assistant manager of the flagship souvenir store in Pudong Expo site.
Umbrellas were popular among those who came from outside Shanghai, he added.
Spicy invitation
Visitors learn to cook kimchi.
Visitors learn to cook kimchi.
A chef teaches how to cook kimchi.
Visitors purchase ROK food.
Visitors experience interactive exhibit "Table of Love."
The Republic of Korea Pavilion at the World Expo yesterday invited about 60 visitors to cook kimchi, a spicy concoction of vegetables that usually includes cabbage.
Visitors learned to cook several Korean dishes including pickled radish and soya bean soup, among others. They took the dishes home.
Invitations will also be given out tomorrow.
Cultural feast celebrates Aragon Week
It's showtime for Aragon at the 2010 World Expo.
Aragon Week, which opened at the Spain Pavilion yesterday, is turning the pavilion into a stage for dance and music.
During Aragon's week at the pavilion, visitors will be able to enjoy the show "Aragon's Fantasia." Musicians and dancers will perform a 35-minute modern version of the "jota," a typical dance of the region, through the week.
The choir "B Vocal" comprising five musicians yesterday also performed at the pavilion. They recreated the soundscape of instruments such as drums, guitars, and bass with their voices.
The documentary "Water's Dream" was also screened yesterday at the pavilion. It discussed problems regarding waste of water based on the stories of five different kids from five different regions in the world.
Aragon is a region in northern Spain, home to many rivers. Its well-developed irrigation system around Ebro River is the key for its productive agriculture. Aragon, and in particular its capital, Zaragoza, is known for hosting an Expo in 2008 with the theme of "Water and Sustainable Development."
Russian Pavilion welcomes 2 millionth visitor
A visitor surnamed Xu from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, received a gift set from staff of the Russia Pavilion as the 2 millionth visitor to the pavilion yesterday afternoon.
Xu's gifts included souvenirs on sale at the pavilion. It was his first visit to the Expo site.
Xu queued for more than one hour outside the Russia Pavilion after touring the Mexico Pavilion and Canada Pavilion.
Canadian flavor to sweep site
Canada yesterday announced the program of its celebration for the Canada Pavilion Day on July 1, featuring a full week of performances and activities including a 10-minute show from Cirque du Soleil, a famous Canadian troupe and one of the country's most famous cultural exports.
Cirque du Soleil's Tokyo-based show ZED will be presented at the Expo Center on July 1, together with performances by the Acadian group Grand Derangement, Alberta's pop and R&B singer Kreesha Turner, British Columbia's ambient rockers Jets Overhead and the British Columbia Aboriginal Dance troupe Dancers of Damelahamid. Cirque du Soleil made its debut on the Chinese mainland in 2008.
Alberta's pop and R&B singer Kreesha Turner staged a concert at America Square yesterday night as part of the program.
July 1 is Canada Day and this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Canada. Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean will join in the celebration at the Expo site on July 1, Mark Rowswell, Canada's commissioner general for Expo 2010, revealed yesterday.
The pavilion receives more than 30,000 visitors daily, with a peak of 37,000 people, he said.
The commemorative Expo cards showing Canada's commissioner general posing in front of the Canada Pavilion will be distributed to visitors on the day. Rowswell, better known under his stage name Da Shan in China, is the "most famous foreigner in China" for his role performing xiangsheng (a popular form of comic dialogue).
6/28/10
Visitor number exceeds 480,000 on 58th day
A total of 481,600 visitors packed the Expo site yesterday, bringing the total number to 19.78 million. The figure is estimated to surpass 20 million this morning.
Among yesterday's visitors, 141,200 were on tour groups and 138,900 visitors used free tickets Shanghai government distributed to local residents.
A total of 34,983 tickets were sold on site, with 12,057 night admissions.
Houtan Gate received about 86,000 visitors, Changqing Road 81,000, and Shangnan Road, Gaoke Road W. about 138,000 in total.
By 5pm, 74 shows were staged, attracting 45,700 spectators. A total of 6,436 volunteers served on the site.
The site is estimated to receive more than 180,000 group visitors today. Individual tourists are advised to enter from less crowded gates at Shangnan Road, Bansongyuan Road or Madang Road during 9am to 11am rush hours.
From today, Expo 2010 official publications, such as the official guidebook, are also available on newsstands at main entrances such as the Bailianjing gate, Luban Road gate and Bansongyuan Road gate. Expo passports will be supplied soon at these spots.
Visitors can also purchase Expo Shanghai publications at the Xinhua bookstore on B2 floor of the Expo Boulevard.
Visitor number hits 20m
The total attendance of Expo 2010 has exceeded 20 million with more than 200,000 visitors flooding to the Expo site this morning despite rain.
The new high was hit at 10:13am.
Visitor flow hit 10 million within only 36 days since the opening of Expo 2010 on May 1, and the total number surged to 20 million just 23 days later.
A total of 481,600 visitors packed the Expo site yesterday, while the figure on Saturday was 552,100.
Fujian offers arts extravaganza
Southern China's Fujian province today began its week-long culture show at the Baosteel Stage in Zone B of Expo's Pudong site by displaying its folk arts, including cart drum parade, puppet show, and Nanyin music, a traditional opera sung in the Minnan (south Fujian) dialect.
On the list are Putian cart drum parade, Fujian hotpot folk dance, Fuzhou Folk Dance with 12 brides, Fujian Minnan "chest batting dance," and a large-scale song and dance performance "Met at the Western Coast of the Taiwan Straits." There will also be a male and female vocal duet "Mountain and River Affection," a song from the Puxian Opera called "Spring Grass," Hakka folk songs, and acrobatics.
About 150 professional performers from the Fujian Provincial Song and Dance Theater, Fujian Province Acrobatic Troupe and others will take part.
The puppets include marionettes, palm puppets and writing puppets.
The pavilion had received more than 920,000 visitors by yesterday. Its theme is "Charming Fujian Province on the West Bank of the Strait."
Canadian band rocks square
Grand Derangement, a Canadian band, performs at the America Square.
Grand Derangement, a Canadian band, performs at the America Square.
Grand Derangement, a Canadian band, performs at the America Square.
Grand Derangement, a Canadian band, performs at the America Square.
Grand Derangement, a Canadian band, yesterday kicked off the six-day celebration of Canada Pavilion Day with their performance at the America Square.
The concert was opened by tap dance and rock music.
Grand Derangement will also perform tonight from 7:30pm to 8:15pm, and 8:45pm to 9:30pm at the same venue.
Grand Derangement comes from Sainte-Marie, an Acadian region in southwest Nova Scotia. Formed in 1998, the group of four musicians and one dancer takes an eclectic musical approach, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including French songs, Celtic music, rock, folk and Broadway musicals.
Over their 11-year career, Grand Derangement have staged 750 concerts, released five albums and won two East Coast Music Awards.
Canada Pavilion Day will fall on July 1.
Serbia celebrates National Pavilion Day
Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic delivers a speech.
Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng delivers a speech.
Accompanied by China's vice Commissioner general to Expo 2010 Zhou Xiaopei, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic visits China Pavilion.
Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, China's vice Commissioner general and other guests visit the Serbia Pavilion.
The band Balkanopolis performs.
Serbia Star performs.
Serbia Pavilion celebrated its National Pavilion Day this morning at Expo Center which was attended by Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.
Serbian Minister of Commerce and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, China's vice Commissioner general to Expo 2010 Zhou Xiaopei, and Shanghai Vice Mayor Tang Dengjie attended the ceremony.
Cvetkovic thanked all guests attending Serbia National Pavilion Day as well as Shanghai Municipal Government and Chinese Government for their help to Serbia's participation in Expo 2010.
Expo 2010's participants' number and visitors' number has or will exceed previous Expos, and he believed that countries will promote friendship and offer signals of cooperation at Expo 2010, he said.
He also hoped that Expo 2010 will be a medium of cooperation and friendship as well as he looked forward to offering positive effects.
On behalf of Chinese Government and Expo 2010 Organizing Committee, Han congratulated Serbia on its Pavilion Day.
He also welcomed the Serbian Prime Minister and said that in the Serbia Pavilion, visitors could use a "time machine" to enjoy Serbia's natural scenery as well as its modern urban areas and people's pursuit of a better life.
The pavilion's theme is "City Code" and the exterior design of the pavilion is based on traditional Serbian carpet weaving, a process that symbolizes the unification and harmonizing of ancient and modern. The pavilion adopts the element of "time" to connect not only many interesting exhibits but also past, present and future. There's a "time machine" which can give people the sensation of traveling across time.
Madrid first UBPA case to reach 1 million
Madrid Pavilion became the first Urban Best Practices Area attraction to welcome its 1 millionth visitor yesterday, surprising its officials.
Wang Yiran, 24, a local fashion designer, was the 1 millionth visitor and she was given a gift package - Real Madrid and Atlectico de Madrid soccer jerseys, a designer bag and four meal coupons for the pavilion's restaurant.
"My experience at the Madrid Pavilion has made me remember our precious trip to Madrid," said Wang, who had visited the Spanish capital with her family about one year ago.
The attendance turnaround is quite remarkable as only about 2,600 to 2,700 people a day were visiting the pavilion during the first week of the Expo, according to Ignacio Nino, director of the pavilion. But the pavilion and others at the UBPA became popular after policies were introduced to balance visitor flow between the two banks of the Huangpu River.
The Madrid Pavilion now receives 15,000 people on average every day, far beyond the pavilion's expectations.
The Madrid Pavilion includes the House of Bamboo and the Air Tree.
Apulia region shapes Italy's brilliant future
An exhibition entitled "Apulia: Italian Excellence Designing the Future" opened at the Italy Pavilion yesterday, showcasing Apulia region's valuable experience in creating a sustainable and pleasant city environment and harmonious urban society.
The exhibit will be on display in the pavilion until July 7.
Meanwhile, the Italian Film Festival "Apulia, Scenes to Explore" also kicked off yesterday. A series of films will be screened at the pavilion every day until July 4. The festival features a panorama of the best movies shot in Apulia, offering visitors vivid images that capture the beauty, wildness and romance of a multi-faceted landscape.
One of Italy's most outstanding and promising film directors, Pippo Mezzapesa, attended the opening ceremony. Other attendees included Mario Desiati, chief editor of Fandango, the largest independent Italian production company, and Donatella Botti, producer of the festival's opening movie "L'uomo Nero."
Apulia is a beautiful area in the southeast of Italy, also known as the "Heel of Italy." With its advanced industrial R&D capability, Apulia has become the main region for the production of renewable energy in Italy.
Cambodia celebrates Pavilion Day
Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh delivers a speech.
China's Assistant Minister of Commerce Wang Chao delivers a speech.
Cambodian performers stage dancers.
Cambodian performers stage dancers.
Accompanied by Wang, Cham Prasidh and his spouse watch the animated version of the painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" at China Pavilion.
Accompanied by Cham Prasidh, Wang visits the Cambodia Pavilion.
The Cambodia Pavilion featuring the theme "Cultural Life in the City" today celebrates its National Pavilion Day.
The pavilion's showcase is in accordance with one of the sub-themes of Expo 2010 "Blending of diverse cultures in the city" and is an epitome of Cambodia in different periods, Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said at this morning's ceremony in the Expo Center.
Visitors to the pavilion will learn about the country's cultural and historical heritage and splendid civilization, he said.
Wang Chao, assistant commerce minister, said strolling around the Cambodia Pavilion is like touring the Angkor Wat temples. At the pavilion, visitors will touch upon the pulse of the country's progress, share its people's joy in their lives and experience their unique understanding and interpretation of "Cultural Life in the City," he said.
The pavilion embodies Cambodia's emphasis on cultural heritage protection and it features three major historical periods: Angkor, Odong and Phnom Penh. They cover Cambodia from ancient times through today.
Exhibitions include archeology, art and culture and feature beautiful landscapes and city living. Natural resources and tourism are also featured.
Exhibits show traditional techniques for building royal monasteries, temples, roads, bridges, reservoirs and hospitals by ancient Cambodians in the Angkor Period.
Norwegian Pavilion greets millionth visitor
Norwegian Pavilion's millionth visitor pose with performers of the pavilion.
The Norwegian Pavilion welcomed its millionth visitor on Friday, 48-year-old air-conditioning technician Zhu Xingwei from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Zhu first thought he had done something wrong because he was pulled aside by State Secretary Halvard Ingebrigtsen from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry, commissioner general Arild Blixrud and pavilion director Espen Guterud. Until he was congratulated, he realized he was the luckiest visitor to the pavilion so far.
"We chose the Norwegian pavilion because we liked how it looked from the outside, but we had never thought we would get to experience anything like this," said Zhu.
He was given a certificate, the collected works of Norwegian author Knut Hamsun in Chinese, and a four-course dinner for two at the pavilion's seafood restaurant, among other things.
With a daily average of 20,000 visitors, the Norwegian pavilion is now on track to exceeding the initial estimate of three million visitors for the duration of the Expo by a half million.
Brunei Pavilion launches tourism week
The Brunei Darussalam Pavilion will stage dances with strong Southeast Asian flavor to celebrate its tourism week launched today.
Two shows will be presented daily from 10:30am to 11:30am, and 4pm to 5pm until July 2.
The oil-rich country is located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia.
With century-old brass work, silverware and wood works, the pavilion -- with its "Now for the Future" theme -- reflects Brunei Darussalam's commitment to meeting not only the immediate needs of its people, but the long-term aspirations of its youth for future generations.
It showcases its National Vision 2035, a long-term development blueprint to make the country widely recognized for an educated, highly skilled and accomplished people with a quality of life and a dynamic and sustainable economy.
Visitors can enjoy genuine food from Brunei such as the hot and spicy Nasi Katok.
Chance to win signed ball of Liverpool FC
To kick off the Liverpool Pavilion's July "Culture, Health and Sports" month, visitors who wear the football jersey of either of Liverpool's two famous Premier League Clubs, Liverpool FC and Everton FC, on July 1 will have the chance to win a Liverpool FC ball signed by all of this season's Liverpool FC stars including the current Liverpool and England Captain Steven Gerrard.
They will be able to enter the pavilion directly without queuing and win the ball via a lucky draw after providing some basic information to pavilion staff.
All visitors wishing to enter the draw must have provided their details to the Liverpool Pavilion staff by 4pm as the winner will be announced at 5pm.
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