World Expo Shanghai organizers yesterday started construction on
the first national pavilions for the 2010 event.
The pavilions will house the exhibitions of participating
countries, including Germany, Japan and Benin.
An artist's rendition of the World
Expo Site in Pudong. Work started yesterday on the event's national
pavilions.
Organizers said they hope the first pavilions will be finished
by the end of the year and set the standard for participants.
They also hoped they would serve as an incentive for countries
who have yet to confirm their participation.
Organizers also said yesterday unforeseen problems may lie ahead
for builders.
"We can find out the problems in advance and optimize our
plans," said Bai Wenhua, chairman of Shanghai World Expo Land
Holding Co.
Workers are building everything from pavilions and elevated
pedestrian ways to landscaping and toilets.
Though the area is now being used as a trial zone for all kinds
of site construction, organizers said the project has been
carefully planned.
Small adjustments are possible, but the main blueprint will not
change, they said.
The 17.7-hectare area currently under construction is in the
east of the Expo's Pudong section.
It will be the exhibition area for Asian countries.
Most of the pavilions in the site will be torn down after the
Expo is over. Organizers said they will use environmentally
friendly materials.
All construction work for the Expo will be completed by December
2009.
The construction projects include:
Public services facilities, such as restaurant, shops, an
emergency medical center, banks, post offices and toilets.
An elevated pedestrian way. Six meters above the ground, the
elevated way will connect the outdoor space and main entrances with
the pavilions.
A square in front of the entrances and exits as well as a
parking lot.
(Shanghai Daily May 22, 2007)
