People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, said in an editorial that the Shanghai World Expo provided the world with an opportunity to weigh the future at a time when mankind is faced with serious challenges.

The editorial, to be carried by the newspaper on Monday, bid farewell to the the 184-day Expo which lowered the curtain on Sunday.

The editorial reads, industrial civilization is a double-edged sword, enriching modern lives and bringing challenges at the same time, such as environmental degradation and rapid urbanization, and the Shanghai World Expo made people stop and think about the future.

The Shanghai Expo made history, registering over 73 million visitors and 246 participating countries, regions and international organizations, the editorial says.

The editorial reads, the Shanghai World Expo is the first exhibition whose theme focused on the city. Though the expo is ending, people's hopes and expectations, pinned on cities, will endure, as will the efforts the international community makes in reaching common ground in a diversified world amidst the concept of sustainable and low-carbon development.