Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Countdown to Shanghai World Expo begins
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Countdown to Shanghai World Expo begins
AFP - Tuesday, January 26
Send
IM Story
Print
Countdown to Shanghai World Expo begins
SHANGHAI (AFP) - – Less than 100 days before the World Expo opens in Shanghai, armies of workers wearing yellow and orange hard-hats are buzzing around a huge muddy site where the pavilions are far from finished.
But officials say preparations are on track for the massive six-month event, which is due to bring at least 70 million visitors streaming into China's biggest city from May 1.
"We're confident as we've been working on this for eight years," said Xu Bo, assistant commissioner general at the World Expo.
"Right now 90 percent of the structural work is finished and now we're starting interior work."
Less than two years after China successfully hosted the Beijing Olympics, Expo 2010 will offer the Asian giant a new opportunity to impress the world, and organisers promise the event will be record-breaking.
The site is the biggest ever for an Expo and it will welcome a record 192 participating countries and 50 international organisations, along with the mammoth number of visitors, most of them Chinese.
"The Expo is a sign of power, and for us it's a very strong symbol," Xu said about the first Expo to be held in a developing country, funded by a budget of more than four billion dollars.
China has also allocated 14 billion dollars for new highways, subway lines, roa d repairs and the renovation of many districts in Shanghai -- a figure that does not even include the expansion of the city's Pudong airport.
"Shanghai has become a permanent building site," said Xu.
Authorities also shut down 272 "very polluting" factories, one shipyard and relocated 60,000 residents to make way for the vast Expo site on the banks of the Huangpu River.
Welders, masons, electricians and plumbers are now stepping up their efforts to transform the site still full of mounds of earth, bricks and cables into a field of Expo dreams, full of national pavilions with bold designs.
The British pavilion looks like a giant ball of acrylic rods, Poland's construction brings to mind intricately cut paper and Germany's is built at sharp angles.
The French pavilion opposite is cloaked in a concrete fishnet, while Switzerland's will see visitors ride chair lifts on the building's grassy roof.
Japan, meanwhile, has chosen a kind of purple turtle, the Netherlands a bright yellow tulip, Romania a big green ball and Finland a huge white bowl.
The biggest of all is China's main national pavilion -- a large, red inverted pyramid that can be seen from far away and which Xu says represents "wisdom, wealth and harmony."
And China's Expo performance centre, which looks like a flying saucer, can house an audience of up to 18,000 people.
"Better city, better life" -- organisers hope the Shanghai Expo will allow for reflection on the idea of long-lasting and green urbanisation and are putting the emphasis on energy-saving.
On the as-yet-unfinished "Expo Boulevard," huge trumpet-shaped structures will soak up the sun's rays to light up galleries and catch the rain to water the green areas.
The separate Chinese theme pavilion, which will host exhibitions during the Expo, is covered in solar panels, visitor shuttles are electric and all the lighting used to illuminate the building at night is energy-efficient.
As the start of the Expo nears, 18 million tickets have already been sold -- more than expected at this stage.
With organisers planning for peaks of 800,000 to one million visitors a day, security is a major headache for authorities -- more than it was for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing as the Expo will last six months.
"We will try to limit the number of visitors some days," said Xu, who added that China "wants foreigners to come" when asked about the possibility of visa restrictions such as those implemented during the Beijing Games.
Foreigners are expected to account for five percent of total visitors, or at least 3.5 million people.
At the French pavilion, marketing director Franck Serrano said he hoped to attract 10 percent of visitors.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Mozilla leader worries about Internet limits AP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
RPT-PREVIEW-Bank of Israel to hold rates after 2 straight hikes Reuters - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
Earnings Preview: 4Q loss seen at UAL AP - 1 hour 11 minutes ago
AOL buys online video company StudioNow for $36.5M AP - 1 hour 15 minutes ago
2-DNO faces Kurdistan damages of up to $144 million Reuters - 1 hour 15 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
EU probes Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton iron ore deal
Ethiopia plane crashes off Lebanon with 90 on board
New York woman falls, rips Picasso painting
China denies state role in Google cyberattacks
Ericsson to cut 1,500 more jobs, profit plunges
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
China Economychina economy
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Glacier alarm 'regrettable error': UN climate head
Haiti police count their losses, prepare for calamity
Barclays Capital head 'slates Obama bank plan'
Water woes could undermine Yemen's drive against Al-Qaeda
Traumatised Haitians struggle to comprehend grim fate
More Most Viewed »
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 25 January 2010 Vegas-Bound Flight Diverted After Passenger Tries To Open Emergency Exit Door
'Bin Laden' Claims Responsibility For Underwear Bomber
Auschwitz blueprints go on display in Israel
Obama 'confident' of repeat Fed term for Bernanke
Israelis says anti-Semitism peaked in 2009
Ahmadinejad hints Iran resolved to make 20 pct nuclear fuel
Netanyahu reaffirms Israel claim to parts of West Bank
Israel to rebut Gaza war report
U.S. seeks extradition of Guatemalan ex-president
|
Plane catches fire in Iran, injures 42
Ahmadinejad says new budget less dependent on oil
Afghans postpone parliamentary elections
Okinawa vote pressures Japan on US Marine base
Japanese residents elect mayor opposing US base
Ex-US Commerce secretary Mosbacher dies in Houston
Sprucing up the dead is big business in Taiwan
No indication of heightened US alarm from new tape
McCain says campaign finance reform is dead
Thai, Cambodian troops clash near disputed temple
Bin Laden warns of more attacks on US targets
Candidate against US base leads Okinawa mayor vote
Aging bikers taking to the streets on beefy trikes
Sri Lanka's opposition warns of election coup
Coast Guard: Vessels in Texas oil spill separated
White House says no reset button for Obama
Adviser says Obama is pursuing health care changes
Rock attitude unifies diverse Paul Smith show
ER's John Wells looks at layoffs in first film
|
'Avatar' tops box office for sixth-straight week
Luxury label Lanvin goes to the street for fashion
MySpace bids to pay musicians 'lost' royalties
Black Eyed Peas lose out in awards mix-up
Music fans 'ready for anything' to meet idols
UN Climate Scientists Now Say Claims About Himalayan Glaciers Not True
Haitian Man Found Alive 11 Days After Deadly Quake
TSA Worker Plants Bag Of White Powder On Passenger
TSA Worker Plants Bag Of White Powder On Passenger
Lebanon's First Male Stripper Says It's All About the Skin
NYPD Faces $2 Million Suit for Jailing Men Over Candy
Farmer Shoots 51 Cows Dead Then Self
Woman Charged With Setting Husband's Genitals On Fire Stalls Trial With Plea Negotiations
Teen Cop Impersonator In Trouble With Law
Chimpanzee Center Of Florida Custody Battle
Human 'Bed Warmers' Bring The Heat
Washington Town Drafts 'Sexpresso' Guidelines
Specter Scolds Bachmann Live On Airwaves
Ethiopian airliner crashes on takeoff in Lebanon
Ethiopian plane crashes in sea off Beirut, bodies found
|
US-TECH Summary
Greek FM rules out abandoning euro
Ethiopian airliner crashes after takeoff from Beirut
HP to launch music service in Europe
U.S., Brazilian troops hand out aid in Haiti slum
|
Soviet war veterans warn US on Afghan strategy
Haiti police count their losses, prepare for calamity
Religious "Super Police" to Monitor Arab Satellite TV?
Water woes could undermine Yemen's drive against Al-Qaeda
Myanmar says Suu Kyi to be freed in November: witnesses
|
Japan PM vows U.S. base decision by May, scandal weighs
|
Afghanistan delays parliament vote
"We Are the World" Remake In The Works To Benefit Haiti
Traumatised Haitians struggle to comprehend grim fate
London conference on Afghanistan's future
China casts nervous eye at erstwhile ally Myanmar
|
Climate talks threaten Saudi with anti-oil bias: official
Talks with Taliban loom over Pakistani-Afghan summit
|
Obama's debut State of the Union a moment of truth
Bill Gates says innovation can leverage change
Audit hits State on failures to monitor Iraq work
Cape Wind's fate unclear, even in Obama's hands
China steps up defense of Internet controls
|
Rare dinosaur skeleton turned over to researchers
2 jailed, 1 acquited over Malaysian ritual killing
HP to launch music service in Europe
|
Wal-Mart cuts about 11,200 Sam's Club staffers
Guatemala moves to arrest ex-president on US request
After 2008 scare, China finds more toxic milk products
FBI: Man who tried to open airplane door released
Wal-Mart Announces 11,200 Sams Club Job Cuts
Six Iraqis To Undergo High Tech IT Program In US
Australians asked to rethink national holiday
Amtrak train partially derails near Fairfax, Va.
War crimes pressure on new S.Lanka chief: analysts
China denies state role in Google cyberattacks
2 children swept away by Tijuana River
Oh deer! 10-to-12 point buck breaks into Ill. home
S.Korea OKs talks with N.Korea despite threats
Officials: Suspected US drone crashes in Pakistan
Influential Buddhist pleads for religious freedom in Vietnam
Seoul shares shed 0.8 pct; exporters outperform
Taiwan sells 30-year govt bond at 2.294 pct yield
Taiwan set to open key trade talks with China
Taiwan lets chip firms invest in China: report
Taiwan c.bank asks banks to follow FX forward rules
Bank of China shares fall on fund-raising plan
S.Korea to clamp down on banks' non-exec boards
Avatar replaces Titanic in record books
|
PAKISTAN
The Hurt Locker wins Producers Guild award
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Chinese economy heats up global crisis debate
Kristen Stewart gets dirty in fishnets, g-string
Iraq drama 'The Hurt Locker' wins Oscars indicator
Taiwan dollar up on exporters, fund inflows
Kristen Stewart gets dirty in fishnets, g-string
|
'Hurt Locker' wins Producers Guild Award
"The Hurt Locker" wins Producers Guild award
'Space Tourists' highlighted in Sundance film
Chavez muzzles TV stations for not airing his speeches
Agent: 'Guys and Dolls' star Jean Simmons dies
Visitor collides with Picasso work at Met in NYC
Car bombs hit 3 Baghdad hotels, kill at least 31
Ericsson cuts 1,500 more jobs, profit plunges
China steps up defense of Internet controls
EU probes Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton iron ore deal
At least 36 dead as car bombs rock Baghdad hotels
|
Ericsson to cut 1,500 more jobs, profit plunges
China denies state role in Google cyberattacks
U.S. commander sees eventual Taliban peace deal
|
FDA: Beware Of Fake Diet Pills
Activists block nuclear shipment in France
U.S., Brazilian troops hand out aid in Haiti slum
|
Coast Guard Searching For Missing Pilot
Iraq executes Saddam henchman Chemical Ali
|
Trial In New Jersey Corruption Sweep Begins Monday
1.2 Million Pounds Of Salami Recalled
Yemen's Shi'ite rebels offer truce to Saudi Arabia
|
President Obama Declares Arizona Emergency
Palestinians study U.S. idea for Mideast talks
|
Karoubi accepts Ahmadinejad as Iran govt head: report
|
Tibet envoys leave for fresh talks with China
|
Stage set for Sri Lanka's historic presidential vote
|
Rocket strike at Afghan base wounds 8 NATO troops
Bill Gates says Internet needs to thrive in China
|
Thousands of vets could get benefits upgrade
Zen master: Vietnam must grant religious freedom
You're number 1: Alaska village up first in census
More tainted milk products found in China shops
Churches torched by Muslim mob in Indonesia
Obama to review work of middle-class task force
Mumbai gunman demands trial by international court
Prosecutors build case in Kan. abortion trial
S.Lanka president urges fair vote on election eve
Neighbor testifies at Peterson's 'hearsay' hearing
Group: Cambodia should shut drug detention centers
Analysis: Marines leave Iraq again _ for good?
Pro-opposition reporter missing in Sri Lanka
UN warns Mongolia's severe weather threatens lives
Owners: $5.4B NY housing complexes go to creditors
Facebook's virtual farm game attracting millions
AP NewsAlert
Pakistani o/n rates flat; rupee firms; stocks down
Tourism to Japan battered by strong yen, recession
Stone says US in denial over JFK assassination
South Korea, India to boost trade, investment
Japan car makers set foreign production records
Toyota global sales slide, cutting lead over VW
Countdown to Shanghai World Expo begins
S.Korea to hold FTA talks with Japan and China
Bank fears send Asian shares lower
World Bank praises China anti-inflation steps
China firm to send 10,000 employees to Taiwan
Casual comfort as designers put men in leggings
Indonesian president releases new pop album
Actor Gary Coleman jailed in Utah
Star-gazers sway Sri Lanka election
"Bridge" a bold Broadway bow for Scarlett Johansson
Stone says US in denial over JFK assassination
Children of Auschwitz recall liberation 65 years on
China's hit TV show on housing sparks controversy
Basterds, Bullock, Bridges big SAG winners
|
Bridge a bold Broadway bow for Scarlett Johansson
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights