Let’s say you only have a day pass to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and you absolutely have no time at all to look at everything.
Because that really is impossible. Hello? At 5.28 square kilometers?
But you do enjoy looking at architecture and just taking in the sights within the venue. Then why not narrow down your itinerary to visiting these 12 unique pavilions? Aside from visiting the China Pavilion of course.
2 days to go!
The Most Beautiful–Meteo World Pavilion
Theme: Safety and Well-being
Location: Zone B
The pavilion is constructed using meteorological concepts with the cloud being the most basic. There are spheres of 4 different sizes connected to each other to resemble one giant cloud. The entire building is covered with a white and transparent membrance structure. When the spray is turned on, mist will come out making the Meteo World Pavilion look like a genuine, floating cloud. Tip: When the sun elevation angle is less than 42 degrees, you might see a rainbow inside.
The Meteo World Pavilion is funded by the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization.
The Happiest–Dutch Pavilion
Theme: Happy Street
Location: Zone C
Covering a ground area of 400 meters, the “Happy Street” is an 8-shaped pedestrian with 26 small houses dotted or rather “hanging” along it (as it is built completely on stilts). Visitors will be surprised to know that there is no main gate to enter the pavilion. You can randomly go in at all sides. At night, when lit up, the “Happy Street” is like any kid’s dream.
The Dutch Pavilion is designed by John Kormeling.
The Most Romantic–French Pavilion
Theme: Sensual City
Location: Zone C
The pavilion is embraced by a thin inorganic grid network suspended on a reflecting pool making it seem like a white palace. Inside, the food, the courtyard design, the perfume and old movie clips brought over will lead visitors into experiencing the French sensibility and charm.
The French Pavilion is designed by Jacques Ferrier.
The Most Fantastic–Polish Pavilion
Theme: Smiling Poland
Location: Zone C
The pavilion is abstract and irregular in shape with the surface being covered with hollow “paper-cuts”. Visitors will be able to get an interesting visual experience through the play of scattered sun rays. The interior walls can be used as a video screen which will showcase the typical Polish city life. When the lights are turned on at night, the entire hall will come out looking like it came out of an illusion.
The Polish Pavilion is designed by Marcin Mostafa and Natalia Paszkowska.
The Most Creative–British Pavilion
Theme: Building on the Past, Shaping Our Future
Location: Zone C
This open-roofed park comprises of the “Seed Cathedral” with 60,000 transparent acrylic rods attached to it which earned it the nickname “Dandelion”. During the day, the rods will provide fiber-optic light transmission as internal lighting. At night, the built-in light source will illuminate the entire structure. Also, when viewed from above, the UK Pavilion looks like an unwrapped gift symbolizing the British’s goodwill towards the Chinese and the people of Shanghai during the Expo.
The British Pavilion is designed by Heatherwick Studio.
The Most Expensive–Saudi Arabian Pavilion
Theme: Vitality of Life
Location: Zone A
The total investment for the Saudi Arabia Pavilion is RMB 1.3 billion. The pavilion is totally suspended in the air resembling a “moon boat”. An oasis complete with coconut palms and dates can be found at the top recreating the desert style paradise.
The Saudi Arabian Pavilion is a collaboration between architects from China and Saudi Arabia.
Japanese Pavilion
Theme: Harmony Between Human Heart and Technology
Location: Zone A
This “breathing organism” has several crevices and antennae which is allegorical to life. The large, semi-circular dome is colored purple thus earning the moniker “Purple Silkworm Island”. The hall is 24 meters high with a silver-white external color. It has solar-powered devices hidden in the double-layer membrane making it the Japanese people’s “Robotech”.
UAE Pavilion
Theme: Vitality of Life (Movement of the Sand Dunes)
Location: Zone A
The UAE Pavilion looks like flaming, red lips. But actually these are sand dunes. The rose gold stainless steel plate surface shows changes in color. The special structure gives the whole architecture a sense of movement. So whenever the wind blows, visitors will be able to feel the movement of the “sand dunes”.
The UAE Pavilion is designed by Foster + Partners.
Austrian Pavilion
Theme: Austria–Feel the Harmony
Location: Zone C
From a distance, the Austrian Pavilion looks like a guitar lying flat, with the external and internal decoration using a large number of ceramic elements. Visitors wandering through the five galleries will experience the natural beauty of Austria, from the towering mountain ranges across the forests and grasslands, through valleys, and ultimately going to the city to show the balance of rural and urban living.
The Austrian Pavilion is designed by SPAN and Zeytinoglu Architects.
Italian Pavilion
Theme: City of Man
Location: Zone C
Inspired by one of Shanghai’s traditional games “Pick-Up-Sticks”, the 20 irregular, functional modules are assembled to represent the 20 major regions of Italy. The whole exhibition is like a miniature Italian city–full of alleys, courtyards, paths, squares and other elements of traditional Italian cities.
The Italian Pavilion is designed by Giampaolo Imbrighi.
Indian Pavilion
Theme: Cities of Harmony
Location: Zone A
Does not need energy and completely zero emissions; built with tens of thousands of thick bamboo bamboo; the Indian Pavilion is the world’s largest bamboo dome. This will be the Shanghai World Expo’s most “green” pavilion. The design is like the Taj Mahal with dark red and light brown colors to resemble the Hindu temple style.
The main designer for the India pavilion, is D. R. Naidu along with the team at Design-C. Sanjay Prakash & Associates, Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates, Environmental Design Solutions (all from New Delhi) and Integrated Design (Bangalore) all collaborated in the evolution of the design and its architectural execution.
A special design contribution has come from Dr. Simon Velez of Columbia, who worked to re-configure the structure and train the site team to assemble the dome in his signature style of bolted and grouted bamboo.
Spanish Pavilion
Theme: From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children
Location: Zone C
The Spanish Pavilion has a steel structure for its skeleton while the roof and exterior walls are covered with rattan so that it looks like a hand-weaved wicker basket. Natural rattan is woven into the panels for a block facade. The overall shape is wavy similar to a basket. It is designed such that sunlight can spill through the cracks in the pavilion rattan.
The Spanish Pavilion is designed by Benedetta Tagliabue and Miralles Tagliabue.
All pavilions can be viewed until 10.30pm everyday starting May 1, 2010. There will be Pavilion Days for each country. August 12 Switzerland. August 22 Hungary. August 30 Spain. September 3 Nepal. September 12 Malaysia. September 28 Russia.
A good taste of what’s in store for visitors. Unfortunately, I’m unlikely to get to visit in person.
Hey Stuart,
Aww…oh well. You still have until October 31, 2010. We’ll be posting more stuff here in CNR! So stay tuned!
Excellent post Baoru! The whole Expo is a bit overwhelming and making short lists of things to do help make it a lot more accessible.
Thanks, Elliott! I love making lists and bullet points. The OC in me comes out.
Hey Bao, thanks a lot for this. I cannot wait to visit the pavs! :)
Hi, Baoru! I could not agree more with your listings. I share the same list. I have been studying the expo application in my phone just to make sure I am visiting the right stops. Another good feature from you. Keep them coming.
Hey Prim!
Thanks!!! Cool, I wish I have an Expo app in my phone too.
Visiting 12 pavilions in one day still sounds like too much…
Hi Khengsiong,
Hmmm…given that you have to line up and everything, maybe at the very least just view and appreciate the architecture.
This list is great, the UK one is definitely among the top of our list. I think now that the Expo has opened, the shops of each pavilion should also factor in your decision! I.E. Uggs at the Australian pavilion, or the exclusive perfume at the French Pavilion.
http://www.jingdaily.com/en/luxury/luxury-brands-and-shoppers-converge-at-world-expo/
Thanks for the tip!
How can I buy expo tickets before the expo? I’m going there this May 20.
Hi KE,
Are you in China now? You could call the following numbers:
China Telecom Hotline number: 114
China Mobile Hotline number: 12580
Bank of Communications Hotline number: 95559
China Post Hotline number: 11185
Expo ticketing hotline 962288 (They can offer to deliver.)
of course you should encourage everyone to go see the Philippine Pavillion!
Wow Philippines!
Just saw the Australian pavilion – it looks a slice of turd lasagne! Just add cheese (no, that’s inside it).
Hey Mike,
That disappointing, huh? Anything you liked about it though?
hi i am from india approximately how many days it takes to visit the expo i planned on may 20 now i am in china only
Hi Somu,
Welcome to Shanghai! If you really, really want to visit every pavilion there is, 1 day simply isn’t enough. Let’s make it 2-3 days minimum. But if you do selective touring, you could do 1 day. What pavilions do you intend to look? Besides India of course.
hey! we plan to go there with university…
what about the tickets??
do we have to book in advance for a group??
how much do they cost approximately??
and is it ok durin July? i mean if there are going to be too many people there..
thanx!
Hi Lenio,
I think the number of people going to the Expo on July will be the same as now. Are you in Shanghai? You can buy tickets through the phone (English instructions available):
China Telecom Hotline number: 114
China Mobile Hotline number: 12580
Bank of Communications Hotline number: 95559
China Post Hotline number: 11185
Expo Hotline number: 962288
Outside the Expo site, visitor can buy both standard and special tickets in Lianhua and Hualian supermarkets, and in four convenience store chains such as Lawson and Alldays.
Tickets can be bought on the site itself but it starts selling 8am. Expo Garden opens 9am. Time could be limited. Ticket price is RMB 160.
Let me know if you have other questions.
mmm we are not there now, we plan to go on a trip on July maybe
thanx for the information… i guess we cant book through the internet
so…
thanx again :)
Hi lenio,
Here’s another resource you could check!
http://hotels.expotia.com/blog/content-en/blog-en/shanghai-world-expo-tickets-en/
Let me know how that works out. :-)
Hi Baoru… thanks for the tips… just did a search and got to this page… it’s pretty cool reading a review written by a fellow “kababayan”…
Hi herman,
Glad you found this one useful! See you at the Expo! And thanks for visiting our blog!
Hi Baoru,
Very helpful info and I am compiling my list now. Will have 3 full days there !!!
Hi Jenhooi,
Thanks! Do share whatever you discover at the Expo! And if you have any more questions, just shoot.
Cheers!
Hi Baoru,
I am also trying to list out the country pavilions which are having Food & Beverage outlets. I want to take this opportunity to look at their set up, concept, cuisine etc…and of course, if the price range is within my budget, I want to taste their food. Any info ?
Hey Jenhooi,
What a great project! Well, I took pictures of the list of restaurants (see here). You could start there.
If you’re planning to taste EVERYTHING or at least most of them, just to give you an idea–average meal is RMB 30. And that’s not fancy-shmancy. Sometimes it’s just packed lunch–on a plastic plate or disposable even. So I’m just saying bring enough money.
Or do you have a volunteer friend? There are staff discounts available. But it’s still not much. I mean, if you compare the price of food to what it’s worth. It can get you RMB 20 meals.
Let me know how it turns out! I’d love to know about it!
hi baoru .. where is the china pavilion? it is grand, architecturally beautiful and using traditional construction concept .. i think you need the 13th ;-)
Hi e,
You know what, I like the China Pavilion! It was actually the best for me. But it would be too obvious if we add it to the list, right? ;-)
seen and seen again, but all these pavilions are still amazing
you think 2-3 days are fine to see the architecture there?
thanx!
Yes, I think 2 to 3 days is ok.
thanx again! ef-ha-ri-sto in greek! :)
not every pavilion is open till 10 30 pm…and that’s a real problem..e.g. the italy’s pavilion closes at 8:30
I think there should be a list inside the expo informing the people about the closing hours of each one…
btw we went with the university and i thought it was great!
the first expo i ‘ve been to.. :)
Good tip, lenio. Were you able to see the pavilions you liked?
yes! not all of them from the inside but we wanted to see the architecture of the pavilions so it didn’t matter for all of them..the outside was usually more important