Shanghai World Expo Preview

Yesterday was the start of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo trial run. And yours truly was able to get a preview admission ticket (yes!). It came with a mini map showing the entrances and exits.

Although there are many ways to get to the Expo site, Feng Feng, Steve, and I got on Line 9 through Madang Road.

Upon arriving at Line 9, an Expo information booth can immediately be seen from Exit 1.

Signs are all over the place pointing out where we need to proceed going to Line 13 which is the special Expo subway line.

But what we saw when we turned left surprised us.

It was not your typical metro entrance. Throngs of people in snaking lines welcomed us in the compound going to Line 13.

Remember the free tickets per local household I mentioned before? Surprise, surprise, they were made available that day too! Good thing we got out of the lines alive after half an hour WHICH was an improvement as compared to the estimated 2 hours that the volunteers suggested.

At the end of the long, snakish line, another barrier awaited us. It was time for SECURITY.

Until now, I really can’t explain what happened. I was anticipating rain, and because I don’t want it to dampen my happiness, I brought along my few-days-old umbrella. And then…it got confiscated!

Let’s start from the beginning. There are x-ray machines (like those newly installed ones in the metro) waiting for you inside the tent. I was confident of the fact that I read the do’s and don’ts for visitors entering the Expo site never expecting that Murphy’s Law will befall on me.

So we had to put all our little things inside those plastic baskets. My umbrella also was not forgiven.

And then, they just said…”Sorry but you can’t take this inside the Expo site.” HHHHUUUWHAT??? I had to console myself that my umbrella was uber cheap. Actually, only RMB 10. So, ok. Charge it to additional knowledge gained.

IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: If you plan to bring an umbrella to the Expo, make sure it is foldable and inside your bag. Otherwise, it is a threat to society and will be confiscated in the end.

After that ordeal (it really was a traumatizing experience), we inserted our Expo tickets in the ticket slots just after the x-ray machines.

…and went down a set of stairs leading to Line 13.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Going to the Expo is an exciting thing. However, don’t forget your belongings in the plastic basket. Anyway, just a reminder.

Line 13 is FREE for holders of the Expo ticket. It connects Lupu Bridge and Expo Avenue. It’s so pink, I love it!

We got off at Lupu Bridge Exit 1 and a long set of stairs appeared in front of us. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the World Expo.

We arrived there a little late in the morning, so apparently, all the maps ran out. Even the volunteers in their really, cool uniforms weren’t able to help us with this one. Sad.

I love the jacket. It has a hood at the back, so you don't need to lug along an ahem...umbrella. And look! They have matching Expo sling bags too! I want.

And because it really was just 11 days to go before the Expo (10 days now), lots of the pavilions weren’t completely operational yet. So we would line up to enter one, only to find out that it’s not yet open.

English is included in the instructional signs. If you don’t understand a teeny bit of Mandarin, you still won’t get lost. In due fairness to China, it wasn’t in Chinglish.

Something funny happened while we were lining up to enter the Cisco pavilion (yes, there are company pavilions in the Expo too). A visitor fainted inside the pavilion (I wonder why? Of the heat? Or because of the long lines?), and so we were shooed away by the people manning the place. And then, an ambulance arrived.

The Expo site has all the facilities you could think of. They have first aid, an ample number of toilets…

…and cute water drinking fountains all over the place!

See, I told you it’s cute. Even Little Sister can take a refreshing sip!

I think there’s WiFi too (not sure about it). Because I saw a man bringing along his laptop checking out a map like his life depended on it. Or it might just be an offline map, and he just wanted to use his laptop instead of printing out a piece of paper which is lighter and more convenient. Or maybe he’s an environmentalist.

Which reminds me of this ad I saw in the girl’s bathroom.

And then I had a realization.

Now that we’re talking about bathrooms, I forgot to mention that the toilets are Chinese toilets meaning they’re on the ground. If you want Western toilets, you’re better off using the ones for the disabled and with special needs.

Up next: More of the things to look forward to and be aware of when you go to the Expo on May 1.