Touring exhibition promotes Germany Pavilion

a model of the Germany Pavilion

German officials have started touring major cities of China to promote its "Balancity" pavilion, Germany's official World Expo 2010 Website revealed early this week.

The exhibition features a model of the pavilion on a scale of 1 to 200 together with a film providing a virtual tour through the exhibition of "Balancity."

The film starts with showcasing the displays of Germany's federal states. Visitors will then gradually explore various places typical of a city -- a harbor, a factory, a garden, a park and a depot where exhibits and urban projects from Germany will be on show.

The exhibition also involves several posters providing information in German, English und Chinese about Germany's Expo involvement and the pavilion's architecture and exhibition.

The tour started in June in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, which was marked by a week-long exhibition. It has also reached the German Centre for Industry and Trade Shanghai Co and Goethe-Institute Shanghai.

It will hit Wuhan, Beijing and return to Shanghai in 2010. Its Shanghai leg also includes a series of exhibitions at Tongji University.

The 6,000-square-meter structure will be Germany's largest ever at an Expo and will comprise three exhibition areas that will showcase urban life and how the country's design and products can help solve urbanization problems.

It will demonstrate the importance of balance between modernization and preservation, innovation and tradition, community and the individual, work and leisure, and between globalization and national identity.

China Pavilion glitters

The 2010 World Expo organizer launches its gold models of the China Pavilion.

a gold model of the China Pavilion

The 2010 World Expo organizer in Shanghai yesterday launched its gold models of the China Pavilion.

The limited-edition models will be sold in more than 250 World Expo licensed stores in China, a Shanghai home-shopping channel and Bank of Communications outlets.

The 50-gram model will cost 19,800 yuan (US$2,895) and only 10,000 will be made.

The 100-gram model will be 39,800 yuan and 5,000 will be made.

The 150-gram model, limited to 2010 pieces, will cost 58,800 yuan each.

"Gold Expo souvenirs are warmly received by investors," said an official from the Bank of Communications, a global partner of the Expo.

Mexico flies a kite for Expo

scene of the ground-breaking ceremony of the Mexico Pavilion

Eduardo Seldner, commissioner general of the Mexico Pavilion, delivers a speech.

Wu Yunfei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, gives a speech.

Flying kites on a warm sunny day is a favorite activity for children all across the world. At the World Expo Shanghai next year, those sweet childhood memories can be recalled at the Mexico Pavilion.

People will see no building, but a 4,000-square-meter area covered in grass with hundreds of colorful Mexican kites flying in the sky.

Visitors can read a book, have a picnic or simply relax on the grass under the shade of the kites. They can also buy a traditional Mexican-style kite from the pavilion and fly it to recall the fun of their childhoods.

You can even learn how to make a unique Mexican kite as the souvenir.

The country's pavilion will be a "Kite Forest."

It will be a green slope with a total of 135 kites being flown over it. Seen from afar it will look there are hundreds of people flying kites together.

an artist's rendition of the Mexico Pavilion

an artist's rendition of the Mexico Pavilion

The kites, to be made in eco-friendly plastic, will be in red, pink, yellow, green and blue, to make the pavilion one of the most colorful Expo exhibits. The kites will be about 8 meters long and 4 meters wide, larger than normal kites, and supported by poles each 3 meters to 13 meters tall.

Construction began yesterday on the pavilion and a dozen children from Mexico and China planted colorful Mexican kites on the top of poles on the foundations of the pavilion to celebrate the ground-breaking.

Kites represent the idea of flying and are the strength that unites the Mexican and Chinese cultures, said Eduardo Seldner, commissioner general of the Mexico Pavilion.

The kite originated in China and is popular in Mexico.

The name for kite in Mexican is nahuatl, which also means butterfly.

The design envisions a future with spaces specifically planned, thought and designed for relaxation, as well as recovery of parks and green areas, where new generations may find themselves in a city that offers them a better life, said Edgar Ramirez, the pavilion's architect.

"The square is the heart of the pavilion. It is the representation of the future vision for the kids from Mexico," Seldner said.

However, the pavilion will be more than a square for fun. The exhibition area will be a two-story area under the square.

The pavilion will showcase Mexico's culture, landscapes, cities and the ancient Maya civilization.

Some cultural relics of the Maya will be exhibited.

Once inside the main exhibition area, visitors will be taken on a chronological journey through the history of Mexico from the pre-Hispanic era to proposals for the future, the commissioner general said.

Trade fair promotes Expo souvenirs

scene of the fair

scene of the fair

Expo souvenirs are available at the 3rd International Gifts & Home Decor Trade Fair at ShanghaiMart in Shanghai's Changning District.

Expo gifts, garments, toys, stationery items, handicrafts, accessories, bags, textiles, ceramics and metal products are on sale.

Sixteen authorized manufacturers of Expo products have set up booths at the fair. The fair will conclude on Sunday.

More than 2,500 collections of Expo 2010 products are on sale nationwide.

Hill & Knowlton delegation meets organizer

scene of the meeting

A senior organizer of the 2010 World Expo today expressed appreciation for the public relations services provided by Hill & Knowlton.

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said that communication with leading international media had started well.

He welcomed more suggestions from Hill & Knowlton in this regard when meeting Paul Taaffe, chairman and chief executive officer of Hill & Knowlton.

Taaffe said Hill & Knowlton is confident it can provide quality PR services for Expo 2010.

The delegation toured the Expo site as well as the bureau's exhibition hall, which includes the 2010 event's master plan.

Hill & Knowlton, founded in the United States in 1927, is a leading public relations and public affairs consultancy. It boasts an international network in public relations, public affairs and strategic communications.

Hill & Knowlton was the official public relations agency for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Photo show captures life in Shanghai, Hamburg

photo displays the China Pavilion and the Expo Boulevard.

 A photo shows people playing chess.

A tale of two cities has unfolded at downtown Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre with an exhibition of 80 photos revealing the charms of Shanghai and Hamburg.

The works from Chinese and German photographers capture the unique flavor and cultural heritage of the two cities. The photos detail the architecture along the Huangpu River in Shanghai and the port life along the Elbe River in Hamburg.

The 10-day exhibition will run through August 16. German officials hope the exhibition will fuel local interest in Hamburg, which will present an eco-friendly house at World Expo Shanghai 2010.

The house will be displayed in the Urban Best Practices Area.

The "Hamburg Home" will incorporate both living and office functions. The inspiration for the house came from the city's "HafenCity" project, where old buildings on the Elbe waterfront were renovated into modern environmentally friendly buildings with advanced technology.

Belgium Pavilion picks Smurfs

Officials from the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, Belgium and EU as well as construction workers and a Belgian girl leave their fingerprints, which will be showcased during the Expo.

Belgian Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Didier Reynders gives a speech.

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, delivers a speech.

Smurfs, the blue elf-like creatures, are ready to serve the Belgium Pavilion as its mascot during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The Belgian animated creatures, created by Peyo in 1958, hit China in the 1980s with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series and won countless domestic fans.

"Smurfs are lovely, kind and all good to others. They will not hurt anybody and are good people," said Leo Delcroix, the Belgian commissioner general.

The creatures are popular in both China and Europe and can be a good ambassador between China and Belgium, he added.

People dressed as Smurfs will welcome visitors while virtual Smurfs will present the pavilion's multimedia shows, he said.

The Belgian Expo team will decide whether a male or female Smurf would be the official mascot before naming it.

The pavilion will prepare an exhibition of all Belgium's famous cartoon characters, including Tintin, created by Herge in 1929.

Leo Delcroix, the Belgian commissioner general, delivers a speech.

Alexander Mclachlan, Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Commission to China, speaks.

Smurfs, the blue elf-like creatures, are ready to serve the Belgium Pavilion as its mascot during the 2010 Expo.

Construction started yesterday on the cube-shaped pavilion, which will have 5,000 square meters of space.

A fifth of the space will be taken up by the European Union's exhibition, its Expo debut outside its member countries.

At the ground-breaking ceremony yesterday, officials from the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, Belgium and EU as well as construction workers and a Belgian girl left their fingerprints, which will be showcased during the Expo.

Visitors will enjoy the "bon vivant" lifestyle of the continent. A mini chocolate factory will make authentic Belgium chocolate free for visitors.

The pavilion aims to attract investment from China as well as to promote Belgian investors to China, according to Didier Reynders, Belgian vice prime minister and minster of finance.

Children sing for the ceremony.

an artist's rendition of the Belgium Pavilion

an artist's rendition of the Belgium Pavilion

Iranian delegation visits Expo Bureau

scene of the meeting

A delegation led by Iran's commissioner general for the 2010 World Expo today discussed the country's exhibition with the organizer.

Iran has already secured a 2,000-square-meter rented pavilion. An official participation contract has also been inked between the Middle East country and the Expo organizer.

The commissioner general Gholizadeh said Iran will bring the most splendid part of its culture to the Expo.

Hu Jinjun, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, pledged every necessary support from the organizer.

The delegation also toured the Expo site.

Osaka unveils Expo pavilion logo

Osaka Pavilion's logo

The Japanese city Osaka has unveiled a wave-shaped logo for its pavilion in World Expo 2010 Shanghai Urban Best Practices Area.

The logo features a Chinese character "大" which represents the first character of the Chinese name of Osaka. Chinese designer Wang Yiqin, who now lives in Osaka, created the logo.

The winning design was selected among 307 entries following a public contest concluded in early June. Judges hailed the design for its combination of Chinese culture and beautiful wave shape, which demonstrates the understanding of Osaka's theme "Advanced Environment City - The Challenge of the Water Metropolis."

The logo will be published on the Internet, as well as in promotional materials and posters of Osaka's UBPA case.

Meanwhile, Osaka Pavilion has launched a public search for artwork that will run through October 31. Winners will be awarded Expo 2010 tickets. Details are available at http://www.digmeout.net/osaka/.

Osaka will present a watery world at its exhibit that introduces its development of water transport and how it prevents water disasters.

The display will also involve innovative and sophisticated technologies designed to achieve a more comfortable life and a better environment.

New Zealand officials discuss Expo exhibition with organizer

scene of the meeting

Phillip Gibson, New Zealand's commissioner general for World Expo 2010, exchanged views with the organizer yesterday on the construction and operation of the country's pavilion, which will showcase the balance between city and nature.

Hua Junduo, China's commissioner general for World Expo 2010, welcomed the delegation.

The New Zealand Pavilion, themed "Cities of Nature: Living between Land and Sky," will be on a 2,000-square-meter plot on the Pudong side of the Expo site. Construction has already started.

The pavilion exhibition will give a modern variation of the Maori story of how humans were created. The Maori believe forests and people are different aspects of the same creative spirit.

Michael Swain, the New Zealand Consul-General in Shanghai, was also present during the meeting.