Preparations Proceeding in an Orderly Way

By staff reporter QI TIANBI 

   The Shanghai World Expo will be held from May 1 to October 31, 2010. It is only one year until the opening, and preparations for the great event are proceeding in an orderly way. More than 200 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation.

The World Expo Clocks.

Simultaneous Construction of 100 Subway Stations

    “It is estimated that the Shanghai World Expo will receive 70 million visitors, averaging 400,000 per day. Except for warfare and religious activities, there are seldom events of so large a scale in modern society. Therefore, we are faced with great pressure,” says Zhu Yonglei, deputy chief of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

    The pressure mainly comes from traffic, accommodation and demands on funds.

    Shanghai is renovating its airport. On the eve of the expo’s opening, Shanghai’s airport will have a handling capacity of 83 million passengers. There will be no problem with visitors entering and exiting Shanghai.

    Rail will be the main means of transport within Shanghai. During the World Expo, 50 percent of visitors will enter via rail. Five subway lines traverse the site. There are 10 subway stations on the expo site and surrounding areas. Visitors can go through security checks at the entrance to subway stations, greatly alleviating pressure on the expo site.

    “At present, more than 100 subway stations are simultaneously under construction in Shanghai,” says Zhu Yonglei. By the end of 2008, Shanghai’s rail mileage totaled 234 kilometers, ranking ninth in the world. By the end of 2009, Shanghai’s rail mileage will reach 400 kilometers, ranking third after New York and London.

    Zhu Yonglei reveals that although Shanghai will develop many ways of accommodation, including homestays, the city still cannot fully meet demand. Some visitors will be lodged in neighboring cities such as Hangzhou and Suzhou. Shanghai is building an inter-city railway to Hangzhou. It will take only 38 minutes from Shanghai to Hangzhou, and the intervals between trains will be very short.

    The raising and usage of funds is of great concern to the general public. Zhu Yonglei said that running the World Expo through thrift and hard work is a concept penetrating the construction of the expo site. Many old buildings have been put to good use. For instance, the special steel workshop of the Shanghai No. 3 Iron and Steel Plant has been converted to a performance center, and three docks of Jiangnan Shipyard have been changed into performing centers. Making use of disused industrial facilities is an international trend.