For almost a century, a bronze statue has been sitting in the harbor of Denmark's capital Copenhagen. Her name is the Little Mermaid. A figure from one of the most appreciated fairytales from the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, she is one of Copenhagen's top tourist attractions.

The mermaid ready?for take-off?[Sara Steensig/Radio86.com] More photos>>

But this Thursday, she was removed from her stone for the first time since she was placed there in 1913. The Little Mermaid is going to China to help attract visitors to the Danish pavilion at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

Hundreds of Copenhageners gathered on the sunlit quay to say goodbye to the Little Mermaid, who will be gone for about eight months. A dance performance featuring a "mermaid" and a "dragon" symbolized the Chinese and Danish cooperation. Children choirs from both countries performed at the ceremony, speeches were made and ribbons were cut.

Boats and swans crowded in the water, while Minister of Economic and Business Affairs Brian Mikkelsen, Lord Mayor of the City of Copenhagen Frank Jensen and Charge d'Affairs from the Chinese Embassy in Copenhagen Gu Hui talked about welfare, fairytales and what a bold move it is to move the statue.

But why does Denmark send its most valuable tourist attraction to China?

"The gesture we do, that they can see the real thing, means a lot to the Chinese. I think it is a quite extraordinary idea," Commissioner General of the Danish Expo Pavilion Christopher Bo Bramsen said after the ceremony, when Radio86 interviewed him.

Around 200 countries and international organizations will participate in Expo 2010 Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, so if a small country like Denmark wants to get attention, extraordinary ideas are required, Bramsen explained. He underlined the exposure that Denmark has already gotten in Chinese media and said that this is invaluable branding of the small kingdom in northern Europe.

Controversial idea

Not everybody was happy with removing Denmark's most famous tourist attraction from her spot during the entire summer season. The idea of sending The Little Mermaid to Shanghai caused many heated discussions amongst Danes.

Now, a year after the plan was finally approved by Copenhagen's city government, it seems that most Copenhageners have gotten used to the idea of letting go of the statue for a while.

"When I first heard it I thought that it was not too good, but now I think it's okay," said Leif Westermann, one of the many who came to wave goodbye to the mermaid when she was driven away in an open truck.

Another spectator, Charlotte Rosenberg Ish?y, agreed with him.

"It was difficult for me to understand why the original has to go," she said, explaining that there are at least two copies in Japan that could have easier been shipped to China.

"On the other hand it is very much in line with Hans Christian Andersen who said that "to travel is to live" and now the Little Mermaid also gets to travel. I think there is some kind of poetry in that."

An analysis conducted by the official visitors bureau of Copenhagen showed that the tourists participating in the survey are not necessarily fond of the idea, but none of them would deselect the Danish capital as a destination just because the Little Mermaid is not there now.

Chinese video art in the harbor

The Lord Mayor of the City of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, is not afraid of sending the city's beloved mermaid to China. The gesture shows that Denmark and the Danes are interested in other cultures, he explained when Radio86 got an exclusive interview with him.

"She will make it interesting for many people to visit the Danish pavilion at the Expo in Shanghai," he said.

"We look forward to her trip, we wish her good luck and we look forward to seeing her back in Copenhagen again," he added.

The Little Mermaid will travel to China by plane. Apart from that, no details about her schedule or the security measures are revealed due to her travel insurance.

She will be welcomed in the Danish Expo pavilion in Shanghai on April 25.?By then, the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will unveil a video installation on her usual spot in Copenhagen, transmitting live from the Danish Expo pavilion.

That means that tourists will still be able to see the famous Little Mermaid while she is away – but only on a screen!

(Radio86.com March 26, 2010)