The Expo Boulevard and China Pavilion.

For China, 2010 will be another year of fulfilled expectations: the Shanghai Expo will run from May 1 to October 31, offering a bonanza of state-of-the-art economic, cultural and technological entries from 192 nations and 50 international organizations. The Expo will also stage 20,000 cultural activities and a series of forums – a big agenda for this biggest of Chinese cities.

Shanghai is a hub of finance, trade and shipping, and has always been so. With a population of over 20 million, the city boasts China's largest industrial base and foreign trade port. Throughout China's opening-up, Shanghai has staged many international art festivals and large-scale sports events, such as the Shanghai International Film Festival, China Shanghai International Art Festival, 2010 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai) and Shanghai ATP Masters 1000.

Preparing for the 2010 World Expo, the city began its major urban reconstruction a decade ago. From environmentally progressive management of the whole to alterations of the transport hub, from city image building to quality of life promotion, the city has constructed an Expo foundation that practices what it preaches. As the opening ceremony draws near, dotting the i's and crossing the t's of construction signals the site's entry into the trial operation phase. Meanwhile, Expo Shanghai Online both in Chinese and English versions will be web-accessible from the Expo site by May 1. A decade of hopes and dreams is manifesting on the shores of the East China Sea.

Slicking the City

The 21st century is a crucial era for urban development and planning. As people all over the world are looking forward to a better life in dense population centers, the choice to focus on the "city" as the theme of Expo 2010 Shanghai wasn't incidental. The Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, issued at the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) reaffirms, "Our cities must be places where human beings lead fulfilling lives in dignity, good health, safety, happiness and hope."