Thanks to an excellent public relations campaign, when I hear the Shanghai Expo 2010 mentioned, its well publicized theme "Better City, Better Life," immediately comes to mind. Yet it misses the essential aspect of the Expo, which is how it brings the world's countries and cultures to us, and vibrantly depicts their visions and viewpoints, and offers future possibilities for all nations. And the food's good too. As I strolled through the park, a microcosm of the world that delicately blends imagination with innovation, I thought four words could best encompass what you need to fully appreciate the experience.

Motivation

The fact that this massive World Expo exists tells us there are some extremely motivated individuals who worked hard to make this a reality. I admit I was not one of those individuals, as I did nothing to contribute to its construction, though I certainly paid my taxes. How motivated are you? You'd better be sufficiently motivated to traverse the Expo's epic grounds. Most visitors I encountered possessed ample motivation that grew as they found inspiration amidst the international atmosphere.

Intelligence

Don't worry, it's not mathematics. I'm talking about carefully planning your visit to maximize efficiency. If you want to cover most pavilions within a one-day visit, do your homework before going. Don't just show up without any plan of action.

Courage

As you enter Expo Park you quickly realize that you're immersing yourself in a challenging atmosphere. The masses of curious people, undeterred by crowds and hot weather, walking in the shadows of ingeniously designed pavilions. During my visit, I waited three hours to enter the Saudi pavilion, but the average wait is usually five hours, so bring a book. And incidentally, women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Feel free to inquire about this cultural oddity with the Saudi representatives – that may require some courage.

Energy

The Expo offers a truly enlightening experience, but due to the park's vastness, if you don't have sufficient energy and stamina, you won't be able to visit many of the pavilions and exhibits. Get a good night sleep and have a hearty, healthy breakfast before heading there.

Conveniently, my key words form an acronym, MICE. Therefore, let's not so logically conclude that you need what mice have – no, not cheese or disease – but motivation, intelligence, courage and energy. So keep MICE in mind during your trip to the Expo, and you'll definitely have a good time.

The author is Ph.D candidate of International Politics, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University.