EXPOsure -- Shanghai 2010 World Expo: The Preview

Above is Haibao. He is the official mascot of the 2010 World Expo which will be held in Shanghai from May 1st thru October. Although he looks like a poor man’s Gumbi or an animated condom with arms and legs, Haibao is becoming more popular than KFC or Celine Dion. Just as China had never hosted the Olympic Games until two summers ago, this year will be the first time that Asia’s emerging superpower will host the Expo - almost 200 countries and nearly 50 organizations will have pavilions at the 2010 Expo.

To answer my own question, there is no difference between the World’s Fair and the World Expo. They are simply given the title according to the host city. The French created the traditional event in the mid-nineteenth century by hosting the French Industrial Exposition in Paris. Since then most world class cities have hosted the World Fair/Expo. The themes have progressed since Industrialization was the focus at the end of the century. In St. Louis, the 1904 World’s Fair celebrated the anniversary of The Louisiana Purchase (thanks France!) and “Meet me in St. Louis” was sung by millions. From innovative ice cream cones to the first Ferris Wheel - the world has experienced the ground literally breaking at Expo’s/Fair’s throughout history. In Shanghai the Expo will focus on sustainable development. Different countries pavilions will showcase their ability to be “green.” While China is not the greenest country, as it is still developing and experiencing its own “industrial revolution,” it is China that can define the 21st century in many critical ways.

I will attempt to visit as many different nations’ pavilions as I can during the six month period. As Shanghai is cleaned up in some ways just like Beijing was before the Summer Olympics it will be difficult to find movies, therefore I will write reviews of the pavilions I visit accompanied by photos and hopefully some outrageous quotes from the world!

To give you a taste of how awesome and Chinese the 2010 World Expo will be below is the promotional video which is currently taking China by storm. In the video there are many stars who only Chinese people recognize but there is also Jackie Chan, Shanghai native Yao Ming (at the beginning), and Shanghai native track star Liu Xiang who is inexplicably flying (not hurdling) in the video. This is possibly the cheesiest and most ridiculous video to promote anything... Ever. Nevertheless, it is a good chance to see some of the amazing pavilions and architectural gems that await the world in the Expo parks of Pudong and Puxi.