World Hails Opening of Shanghai Expo

 

Fireworks illuminate the Expo Park on the night of the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo was held on the evening of April 30, featuring dazzling indoor performances as well as a lavish display of fireworks and lights at the riverside. Chinese President Hu Jintao presided and Jean-Pierre Lafon, president of International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) delivered a speech to mark the event. The following morning, Mr. Lafon and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, activated the opening device together at the commencement ceremony, officially opening the Expo Park to the public. A total of 189 countries and regions and 57 international organizations are participating in this largest-ever expo.

Some 20 dignitaries attended the opening ceremony, including European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak. According to Zhou Hanmin, vice director of Shanghai 2010 World Expo Executive Committee, state leaders of 110 countries are expected to visit Shanghai during the six-month expo.

Action flick idol Jackie Chan topped the star-studded list of international performers alongside concert pianist Lang Lang and composer Tan Dun. Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli, Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura and two American singers Jonathan David Buck and Siedah Garrett were all crowd-pleasers. Two Tibetan children from earthquake-blighted Yushu County, Qinghai Province, were invited onto the stage during the performance. Along the 3 km stretch of Shanghai's riverfront at the Bund, the great outdoors gave just enough room to contain the crowd's enthusiasm for the enchanting multimedia laser display and its glimmering reflection amidst the water fantasia.

Throughout the early rush, despite the massive queues forming at some popular pavilions, perfect order reigned in the park. The wait time for the security check determined during the trail run was soon shortened by half.

A total of 33 million tickets had been sold as of May 4th, half of the figure expected by organizers for the whole six-month run of the event. The most popular pavilions so far are those of China, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium-EU, Japan, Spain, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, whereas the Urban Best Practices Areas is seeing relatively fewer visitors.

To avoid big crowds during the peak daytime hours, the evening ticket is a good choice. Evening visitors can expect to be dazzled by the light show near the landmark buildings slated to be permanently preserved: the Expo Axis, China Pavilion, Theme Pavilions, Expo Center and the Expo Cultural Center. To bring an exciting evening to a peaceful close, visitors can take pleasure in a stroll along the Bund culminating in the diversions of the night scene from the distinctive rooftop gardens of the Singapore, New Zealand and Saudi Arabian pavilions.