The 2010 World Expo has opened in the city of Shanghai in what China hopes will be further proof of its rising global influence.
Almost 250 countries and international organisations are showcasing their culture in an event themed around sustainable development.
“Expo 2010 Shanghai is now open!” Chinese President Hu Jintao declared during the gala opening, in which 2,300 performers and musicians from all over the world took part.
They were celebrating the Expo slogan: “Better city, better life in music and dance”.
Tens of thousands of fireworks and lasers then lit up the city’s riverfront – in what organisers promised would be the biggest-ever multimedia event.
Here are some interesting facts about the most expensive world Expo in history, taking place between April 30 and October 31:
* Shanghai’s World Expo, themed “better city, better life”, will showcase the latest green technology from 191 countries taking part.
* The first developing country to hold an Expo, China is making a great effort to promote the event as environmentally friendly, creating the country’s largest solar plant as part of the facilities and using zero emission vehicles for transportation. But most of the exhibition sites will be demolished when the Expo ends.
* China says it has spent $4.2 billion – double what it spent at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – to host the world’s largest exhibition. It is the most expensive Expo to date and local media have reported the true cost is closer to $58 billion.
* The size of the Expo site is twice the size of Monaco and 20 times bigger than the last World Expo held in Spain’s Zaragoza in 2008. The site spans 5.3 sq km across both sides of Shanghai’s murky Huangpu River.
* Shanghai allocated $45 billion to upgrade the city’s infrastructure, creating the world’s longest metro system, two new airport terminals and a $700 million promenade on the historic Bund as well as new roads, parks and bridges.
* Shanghai expects 70 million visitors will attend the Expo, though just five per cent will be foreigners. The city has dramatically increased security measures with bag checks at every subway station and bomb-recognition pamphlets distributed to offices in the Pudong financial district.
* The city has adopted a blue molar shaped mascot called ‘Haibao’, meaning treasure of the sea. Created from the Chinese character for people, it is meant to represent human beings playing a positive role in developing a better city.
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