UPDATE: Also check Why You Would Want A China Pavilion Reservation.
Reservations are needed to get inside some of the pavilions in the Expo. These pavilions are–
- China Pavilion
- Finland Pavilion
- Germany Pavilion
- National Grid Pavilion
- Saudi Arabia Pavilion
- Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. General Motors (SAIC-GM) Pavilion
- Shanghai Corporate Joint Pavilion
- Spain Pavilion
- Theme Pavilions
- Urban Footprints Pavilion
- Urban Planet Pavilion
- Urban Dwellers Pavilion
- Urban Beings Pavilion
- Urban Dreams Pavilion
- Taiwan Pavilion
- World Expo Culture Center
But first–the most important of them all–how could you get inside the China Pavilion?
China Pavilion
In a day, approximately 40,000 to 50,000 people enter the Chinese Pavilion. The reservation tickets are released at all the entrances of the Expo. The number of tickets released per day depends on the day-to-day situation. 30% of the day’s tickets are allotted to tour groups. So if you bought your Expo ticket from a travel agency, more or less they come with the China Pavilion reservation ticket. 70% of the tickets are given out individually at the entrances.
The reservation tickets are only given out come 9am which is the opening time of the Expo Garden. But people start lining up as early as 7am or even earlier. So better arrive at the Expo really early to be able to get a China Pavilion ticket.
The tickets have time slots on them which tells of the designated time you could go inside the China Pavilion. Take note that they are given out randomly as people enter the Expo Garden. Meaning, you and your companion/s may get different time slots. Another advice–be ready to swap China Pavilion reservation tickets with complete strangers. Just approach any random stranger and explain your situation. Do not be afraid to insist.
Finland Pavilion
To get a reservation to the Finland Pavilion, the first thing to check is if your have a mobile phone. If not, forget about making a reservation and just endure the long line-up.
Use your China Mobile phone and text 85401 + time slot you want to get and send to 106666662008. If you are using China Unicom, send it to 1066666620.
For example, if you want to try 1.15pm and your number is registered with China Unicom, text 85401 1315 and send to 1066666620.
You’ll get a message back, telling you whether you can indeed reserve a spot at that time.
If the reservation is still available, you should send a second message with the numbers 01 plus the time you want. For example, if you want 9:30am, the message will be: 01 0930.
A reservation code will be sent back allowing you to enter from 9:30am to 10:30am.
The service costs 1 yuan (14 US cents) per message, apart from common communication charges.
Germany Pavilion
Get an Expo Germany Card or a chip card (which is free but limited) at the Urban Best Practices Area and collect stamps at the locations of at least four of the following German participants: Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Freiburg, the German-Chinese House, and — outside of the EXPO — the German Centre and the AHK (Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
Once you complete your chip card, you get priority access to the Germany Pavilion without need of lining up.
National Grid Pavilion
Online reservations are available here.
Saudi Arabia Pavilion
The reservation system for the Saudi Arabia Pavilion is the most complicated, in my opinion.
First, get a City Name Card (free-of-charge) in Puxi’s Urban Best Practices Area. Collect 16 stamps from the cities there. It must include the city of Makkah which is part of a pilgrimage route in Saudi Arabia.
After completing the 16 stamps, you can claim your VIP card which will give you instant access to the Saudi Arabia Pavilion. But you could only use the VIP card after 6.30pm. The VIP card is first-come-first-serve.
There are only 60 reservation tickets available each day from Mondays to Fridays. Whereas 100 reservation tickets are available each during during Saturdays and Sundays. This makes for a total of 500 reservation tickets given out weekly.
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. General Motors (SAIC-GM) Pavilion
Online reservations are available here as well.
Shanghai Corporate Joint Pavilion
Online reservations are available here. You could also call 55356688 from 9am to 5pm.
Spain Pavilion
Buy an Expo passport. Turn to the 37th page, and collect 3 stamps from Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao.
Theme Pavilions
Urban Footprints Pavilion; Urban Planet Pavilion; Urban Dwellers Pavilion; Urban Beings Pavilion; Urban Dreams Pavilion.
You can get reservations using the reservation machines throughout the Expo Garden.
Taiwan Pavilion
Every 9.30am and 6pm, they give out reservation tickets with time ranges outside the Taiwan Pavilion. These tickets are also limited.
World Expo Culture Center
The 7-story World Expo Culture Center serves as the main venue for ceremonies, conventions, and conferences. Performances also take place inside the Expo Center.
Visitor can get one free ticket for performances at the Culture Center and the Expo Center by showing their entrance ticket.
Staff will hand out the free tickets at the western ticket office at the Expo Culture Center and the western square of the Expo Center from 9:30am.
Tickets are given out depending on the availability of the scheduled performance.
Baoru,
I love all the tips and great information that you have been sharing – keep it up!
Thanks,
Jenny
Thanks, Jenny! If you have some Expo topic you think CNReviews could tackle, I’d love to hear them!
Cheers!
Maybe a revisit of food options, or review of resturants high end/middle/budget – inside/outside pavilions and where to get the best views (great pictures) day and night.
Sounds really complicated and time-consuming, is there a way to easily buy these reservations second hand for a premium?
Hi Carl,
I double-checked your query. Nope, I’m sorry, you can’t buy the reservation vouchers even at a premium price. Maybe there are scalpers. But legally, there’s no way.
I know! It’s really complicated. But with the China Pavilion, just get there early enough; and you’ll be sure to get one.
Cheers!
Please submit the reservation guide.
Can mobile reservations work for foreign mobile numbers while roaming?
Hi alilfatmonkey,
No, mobile reservations will only work with local numbers.
the spain pavilion is my favourite with the UK pavilion
Hey ! Could you please tell me how you got the Uk pavilion reservation?
You can use the reservation machines scattered across the Expo Garden. Just insert your ticket and choose the pavilion you wish to enter.
Hey Baoru ! Thanks for the tip, but where are those machines and do you know any pavilions where they give out free pins?
Chris, in the Urban Best Practices Area on the Puxi side my boys received free pins from the guides in the Hamburg and Madrid areas.
Hey Chris!
The reservation machines are scattered around the Expo. They look like this.
As for the pins, it depends on the pavilion staff really. Like what aussie_bushman tipped us, you could try the Urban Best Practices Area. Or if you have a ready pin to give away (like your country pin–it doesn’t have to be a fancy pin, even something cheap…err…I mean inexpensive will do), the volunteers and pavilion guides absolutely love exchanging pins!
I know of someone who was prepared and brought with him dozens of buttons and pins. Some are just really crazy for them. You would know who. They pin them on their ID straps. ;-)
hey, thanks for all the info. i have a question about the german and saudi reservation system. you mention chip cards and City Name Cards. are they the same? and where can i get them?
Hi ed,
No, they’re not the same. The Expo Germany Card consists of five PVC layers that are laminated together. Inside the card a micro chip and an antenna are installed, which makes the contact between card and card reader possible. The City Name Card is a different thing altogether.
You get them at Puxi at the Urban Best Practices Area.
Hello
I was wondering if we got the stamps that were required for the Saudi Arabia, Germany and Spain Pavilions, could we use it to get in another day or would it have to be the same day that you got those stamps?
Hi Lisa,
You could only use the stamps for the same day you collected them.
Hi Baoru, I’m from the Phils and will be traveling to Shanghai in a few weeks time. It’s my first time to visit so would be great if you can give some tips on sights to see and on the World Expo. Thanks!
Hi Bailey,
Well, you could browse around our site for some posts on the Expo. Check out the posts under this tag. Welcome to Shanghai!
Thanks for the helpful post! Once I have the three Spanish stamps, how do I use them to get access to the Spain pavilion?
Hi Ginger,
Then show them to the fast pass lane at the Spain Pavilion.
Thanks Baoru. Is it rainy in Shanghai these days? Will it still be good to go around the Expo when raining?
Yes, it is rainy. Better bring a sturdy umbrella. It can get a little inconvenient. but it’s doable.
Thanks again baoru. Are umbrellas allowed inside the Expo?
Yes, of course. But don’t bring the long one. Better have with you the foldable umbrella or suffer the same fate as I did.
Baoru,
Sorry to be fussy, but I read that steel tipped umbrellas are not allowed. Could you clarify? Is it only wood or plastic tipped?
Hi aussie_bushman,
You’re not being fussy. :-)
It’s like this–I went to the Expo and they confiscated my not foldable umbrella with a plastic tip. In the official Expo site, this rule falls under–
(viii) any other items that may upset other visitors, or cause bodily injury or property damage to other visitors, or disturb the public order or security within the Expo Site.
The issue isn’t if it’s metal or plastic. I think it’s because they think I might “hurt” someone with my long umbrella.
So better bring a foldable umbrella and hide it in your bag. ;-) But they won’t confiscate it even if it’s not hidden. Heh.
Hi Baoru, congratulations for your nice and very useful work. I’m from Santiago, Chile, and I’m going to Shanghai on september to visit the Expo, I read your tips for it and I have a question: reservation tickets for the China Pavilion are given freely at the entrance or I must to pay for it.
Thanks!
Hi Kike,
The reservation tickets are free.
Cheers from China!
Hi!
I read an article on this website that says the time slots on the China Pavilion reservation tickets don’t apply any more. Do you know if this true?
Thanks,
Olivia
Hi Olivia,
That’s very true! I wrote about it in Why You Would Want A China Pavilion Reservation.
You can buy the passport at any souvenir stores within the expo right? (I need to be prepared as I’m heading there next Wednesday!)
Yup! Enjoy your Expo day on Wednesday!
Thank you aussie_bushman and Baoru ! I’m going to go for my 5th visit on thursday.
Btw, for anyone who wants to visit the Denmark pavilion : Visit the Odense Case pavilion in the urban best practices area and get your passport stamped, it will be an easy access to the den. pavilion.
Baoru,
You mentionned the chip card for the German pavilion, I heard it’s been changed to questions at the freiburg case pavilion. Do you know the questions they’ll ask me?
Honestly, I don’t know, Chris. Seriously, they’re making it like that? Possible questions: what is the capital of Germany? Sorry, Chris, I really don’t know. Or maybe something about the the Freiburg Case Pavilion. Like any exhibit there that’s noteworthy.
Oh, forget it, just enjoy your time there! Fifth visit? Wow! Thanks for your tip on the Denmark Pavilion!
Thank you Baoru. And thanks to you too, aussie_bushman. I got the pin for Hamburg.