The World Expo site sprawls over five square kilometres on both sides of the Huangpu River, with four square kilometres on the eastern bank and one square kilometre in Puxi. Within the site, there are 26 clusters of pavilions, each with 40 to 45 exhibition units across five designated zones.

Zones A, B and C will be located in Pudong on the eastern bank. More than 150 national pavilions are located within these zones, as are the Theme Pavilion, the Expo Centre, the Performance Centre and the pavilions of international organisations.

In addition to these pavilions, major industries and corporations such as General Motors, Coca-Cola and China Telecom will also take up their own pavilions at the event. The corporate pavilions will be located in Zones D and E on the western bank.

GOOD LOCATION
Visitors will be able to make their way to the Expo site easily due to its closeness to downtown Shanghai. The riverfront location is situated between the Nanpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge, along both banks of the river, just 3km from People’s Square.

Traditionally, the structures built for the World Expo are dismantled after the event and the organizing committee has set May 1, 2011, as a deadline for this. However, Shanghai will leave five structures standing, which will form part of a new commercial district to be constructed on the Expo site.

Li Bincheng, director of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration International Tourism Promotion Department, says: “Clusters of disused warehouses and factories used to stand on the expo site, but this land has a very high commercial value and will be turned into another central business district after the World Expo.”

The Expo Boulevard is a sheltered structure with two floors underground and another two above ground. It is set to transform into a multipurpose complex after the World Expo. Innovative temperature control techniques such as spraying and artificial draught have been employed here, to help ease the effects of the heat in summer.

Located in the centre of the Pudong grounds, the boulevard will serve as the main thorough fare for visitors during the expo. It is expected to serve the same function when the site is redeveloped after the expo.

In addition to its resemblance to a flying saucer, the Expo Performance Centre will serve many purposes. The centre has a large central stage and several large function halls with a combined capacity of 18,000 people.

The seating is also adjustable for groups of 4,000 to 8,000, people. The stage has an adjustable configuration, the first of its kind in China. After the expo, the venue will continue to serve as a venue for large-scale events.

LARGE VENUES
SMTA’s Li says: “The performance centre will resolve the problem of Shanghai’s lack of suitably sized venues for large-scale events.”

The design of the Theme Pavilion, located in Zone B, is inspired by origami and draws on the influence of Shanghai’s traditional neighbourhoods. It also boasts the world’s largest solar roof and a 5,000 sqm green wall. The pavilion will showcase exhibitions about the relationship between humans, cities and the environment.

Also in Zone B, the Expo Centre is located within a waterfront wetland park. The venue, which has a total area of 140,000 sqm, will host ceremonies, press conferences and forums.

After the Expo, both the Theme Pavilion and Expo Centre will become additional exhibition and convention venues. The China Pavilion has been nicknamed ‘The Crown of the Orient’. Installed in June 2009, the structure’s most distinctive feature, the roof, sports a traditional style dating back more than 2,000 years. In a nod to China’s rich history, the steel and concrete has been designed in the style of China’s ancient traditional wooden architecture.

Li says: “China’s urban development will take centre stage within the 47,000 sqm pavilion, with three levels representing Footprint of the East, Journey of Wisdom and Blossoming City respectively. A tenminute cable-car ride will take in scenes from ancient times through to the future. There will also be a 38,000 sqm regional joint pavilion and pavilions of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

The structure will also have two open-air observation decks. Organisers are expecting more than nine million visitors at the China Pavilion during the World Expo. After the World Expo, the China Pavilion will remain as a permanent building.