15 Shanghai World Expo Pavilion Secrets

I started seriously browsing Tianya–just one of the many Chinese online forums–and a post about Shanghai World Expo Secrets caught my eye. Intrigued, I looked for a translated version online. And it turns out that Mop has a similar post on it. And actually, another lesser known Chinese forum started a thread with the same topic.

So therefore I conclude, this must be some crazy Expo meme that some bored netizen started. (Our friend Ryan from LostLaowai also posted an Expo meme on the Expo Trial Run.] Because I am a bored netizen too, let me share this translated version here in CNReviews. This is actually a fun guide when you go to the Expo Park soon.

Secrets About The Shanghai World Expo

(Which No Will Ever Tell You)

Secret No. 1: The Most Intriguing-Against-Each-Other Pavilions

Luxembourg Pavilion

Belgium Pavilion

The Most Intriguing-Against-Each-Other Pavilions simply must be Luxembourg and Belgium due to their geographical locations. Luxembourg though small is at the heart of Europe. Their pavilion maybe small but the name they are using is big—“Grand Duchy of Luxembourg”. Not really buying Luxembourg’s claim, Belgium has always deemed Brussels to be Europe’s center. And so these two countries are at each other’s throats and are not seeing each other eye-to-eye. In order to strengthen their claim as Europe’s center, Belgium spent a lot of their hard-earned capital to get one-third of the exhibition space with the European Union (the EU has never been part of the World Expo outside Union’s territory). Belgium also has their famous chocolate in the pavilion which they give away to visitors. Pavilion activities give visitors opportunities to win Belgium diamonds too.

Secret No. 2: The Most “I-Want-To-Be-The-Number-One” Pavilion

In the current Expo, the pavilion who really wants to be number one is none other than the Australian Pavilion. Due to the global financial crisis, many countries have experienced delays with regards to their pavilion constructions. But from the very first day, Australian was the first country to complete their pavilion. Although the Canadian Pavilion had similar goals, their materials were all ready and laid out and even invited Mark Henry Rowswell (also known as Dashan) who is an actor and well-known TV personality in China to boost the morale of the Canadian staff, in the end, Australia was still the first country which successfully completed their pavilion. As the first to be completed, they were unhurried, calm, and gave more attention to details and quality. Most importantly, because they were the first one to finish, President Hu Jintao visited the Expo site and the Australian Pavilion. He was the first one to sign the guest book.

Secret No. 3: The Most “I-Want-To-Be-Number-One-At-Night” Pavilion

In the 100 days duration of the Expo Pavilion contest, many have done their best. That is why certainly it is difficult to declare a winner. Consequently, many pavilions took notice of the night. The British Pavilion saw this as a decisive opportunity.  During the design process, they have this vision of simulating it at night and to see the effect during the evening. The outside of the British Pavilion has more than 60,000 tentacles attached pointing to different directions. At the end of each tentacle is a light-emitting diode. These LED tentacles will change color and play with lights and shadows to create a breathtaking feast at night. The British Pavilion looks strange during the day and can only earn points for being avant-garde. But at night, the British Pavilion, when lighted, can attract more visitors. It is exclaimed that the British Pavilion is new and different and definitely shows originality. You will appreciate that no smoke is used; only the lights and the visions will compete with each other. This is a battle of technology and innovation among countries.

Secret No. 4: The Most Intelligent Pavilion

Australia and UK are really remarkable. Also their exhibits reflect Eastern culture and wisdom. The Heilongjiang Pavilion is actually a strategist and paints a bigger picture through their pavilion. As part of the many exhibits in the China Pavilion and because of the many strong competition outside, winning the respect and favor of the other pavilions is a great challenge. The Heilongjiang Pavilion is not number one during the day or night. However, it wants to be first for the season. The theme of their pavilion is “the most beautiful snow and ice in the world.” Think about it, the Shanghai World Expo will run for a long six months, and the longest season for that period is summer. The Shanghai summer sun during the day and night is notoriously hot. With the sun scorching the visitors from June to September, who would not want to enjoy the snow in Heilongjiang world? The Northeastern Chinese certainly do not lack in the intelligence area.

Secret No. 5: The Most Stylish Pavilion

When it comes to fashion, how could you miss the French Pavilion? The French Pavilion is also one of the pavilions which will be retained. The catchphrase of the French Pavilion when they arrived in Shanghai is to give a gift to the Chinese people and let them experience the delicious French lifestyle. The French Pavilion has prepared lots of interactive activities really focusing on the people’s basic needs. They will invite the audience to put on the latest Paris fashions and strut their stuff in the catwalk. Those who dare model the latest underwear fashions get a special prize too. They are also giving away the most expensive perfume to those who have an urge to marry.

Secret No. 6: The Friendliest Pavilion

We must give top priority to the Saudi Arabian Pavilion. Because Saudi Arabia not only is the pavilion hall who gave the largest investment (RMB 1.3 billion), among the 50 self-financed and self-designed pavilion in the Expo, they were the only ones whose top priority is friendship.  The Saudi Arabian Pavilion’s theme is “Continuing on the Friendship of China and Saudi Arabia”. The fact that Saudi Arabia shipped everything from their country—from the palm trees and basically the entire pavilion—is like a representation of the Silk Road. Saudi Arabia has always been the friend of China. During the Wenchuan Earthquake, Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries who responded quickly.

Secret No. 7: The Most Attractive-To-Children Pavilion

Russian Pavilion

Dutch Pavilion

Summer is the time when the children will visit the Expo. It will be the busiest time during the Expo. Not only are the children the future of the country, they are also the future of the Expo. The Russian Pavilion and the Dutch Pavilion are competing in this category of being the most attractive to children, because they are the two venues that kids will find interesting. Most will be attracted to the 12 white and gold towers that are suspended in air. The Dutch Pavilion not only has a windmill with traditional Dutch-style houses but it also has a special spiraling section called the Happy Street.

Secret No. 8: The Most Similar-To-Chinese-Culture Pavilion

The most similar-to-Chinese-culture pavilion is the Polish Pavilion. Although the Polish president was the first who said he will not attend the Olympics, the Polish Expo organizers have repented and decided to use the Chinese paper cut as its pavilion façade. The paper cut tradition [supposedly] is similar to both Poland and China. If this is true, then the Polish president really is something (in Chinese, even death cannot wipe out your crimes).

Secret No. 9: The Most High-Tech Pavilion

There is no other way; even though we hate Japan, their people really have something to show. The Japanese Pavilion’s own investment is RMB 900 million. Although the pavilion is just a runner-up, but the Pavilion will debut 14 of the world’s most high technologies. Japan has attached great importance to the tradition of the Expo. Because they know that in the area of innovation and technology, they will become the pioneer in the coming decades in the use of leading technologies. From the telecommunications, construction and other industries of view, previous expos have proven this.

Secret No. 10: The Most Gimmicky Pavilion

The main image of the Danish Pavilion is Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid’s shipment from Denmark to Shanghai caught the attention of the whole nation. The media even followed it for live tracking news. Because The Little Mermaid, for centuries, have never left home. Also, not only does the Little Mermaid carry the symbol of friendship to the Chinese people, it also brings with it a secret. The Little Mermaid has a hidden camera system, and she will record everything that passes by it. Expression of all visitors will be transmitted back to the people of Denmark. In addition, Shanghai artists will attempt to recreate The Little Mermaid.

We must be careful! Cannot lose face!

Secret No. 11: The Lowest Pavilion

The Mexican Pavilion has no construction at all. There is only one large and abstract kite fest. The exhibition itself is literally under the ground. The Mexican originality can be seen through a tunnel dug below.  Pictures of the lives of Mexicans, dressed in national costume, singing and dancing can be seen in the subterranean component. Because, according to points of latitude and longitude, directly opposite of Shanghai is Mexico.

Secret No. 12: The Sexiest Pavilion

Perhaps, there are a lot of pavilions who wants to go sexy. However, until now, Brazil’s hot and sexy performance group has been the sexiest so far. The Brazilian Samba dance troupe has participated for several years in the Shanghai Tourism Festival parade, therefore, how sexy is sexy—that’s on top of their pursuit.

Secret No. 13: The Most Unnecessarily-Complicated Pavilion

The Germans say their pavilion is based on the essence of the Chinese’s “I Ching” or the “Book of Changes”. I brought along a teacher who knows a great deal on the “I Ching” to check out the site. Friends who have been observing a long time said to me angrily: “What is this stuff? How is this the “Book of Changes”? This is simply obscene!” I think the teacher is over-the-top and offending, as a result I criticized him: “The benevolent see benevolence and the wise see wisdom; in front of ‘I Ching’ everyone is equal!” German Pavilion! Go your own way, and this is what the “I Ching” says.

Secret No. 14: The Most “I-Want-To-Take-The-World-Cup” Pavilion

The Spanish Pavilion highlights Spain’s national dance which is the flamenco thus taking on the contour of the flowy skirt used in the dance. They really need that place to be a no-smoking zone as by looking at the material, it is just made of rattan. However in that Spanish-straw-walls hides a huge secret. They are holding the European champions of the World Cup that which is the Spanish football team. This June when the World Cup will be held in South Africa, the Spanish football team will go to the Expo for an “eyeball match”. (Enough of the inside news already!) When the time comes, Casillas, Fernando Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Fernando Torres will visit the Shanghai World Exp. Football fans would not really believe their eyes.

Secret No. 15: The Most Ridiculous Pavilion

It is still the French Pavilion who wins this award! The French went as far as to dispatch 7 charter flights to transport van Gogh and 7 other artworks of artists who have never been exhibited abroad. These are the rare treasures of the French Pavilion. The Pavilion will be on full 24-hour security protection by the Chinese armed police force. You may be wondering why the 7 artworks have to be transported in separate charter planes. This is the answer of the curator of the French Pavilion: “The 7 artworks are France’s national treasures. We cannot place them in one charter plane only. In the case of a crash, all 7 of them will go away just that. I would be the greatest sinner in France’s eyes afterwards.” Enough ridiculousness. So this is the Western way of acknowledging risk and providing a sense of security.