‘Crown of the Orient’ stands out among pavili...

    Li Hao

    VISITORS have their imagination challenged, curiosity satisfied, horizons broadened, all by the fascinating pavilions at the Shanghai Expo.

    The high-profile, red Chinese National Pavilion, dubbed the “Crown of the Orient,” overlooks a long queue of visitors who had to make reservations for a specific time.

    With three exhibition areas, each on a different level, the 46,457-square-meter pavilion is 69 meters high and was built in traditional dougong architecture, one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture, with interlocking wooden brackets fixed layer on layer.

    The pavilion highlights China’s achievements in urban development from ancient to modern times.

    After taking a lift to the top level of the pavilion, visitors are welcomed by a huge screen showing a short film of China’s development over the past 30 years.

    A panoramic view of modern Shenzhen appears at the beginning of the film, followed by a chronicled interpretation of the past 30 years.

    On a short walk on the soil from the relics of China’s earliest city, Chengtoushan in Hunan, visitors are treated to an animated rendition of China’s best-known scroll, “Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival.” The animated scroll is presented on a 128m x 6m IMAX screen showing a detailed view of urban life during the Song Dynasty.

    After viewing the animated recreation, visitors are invited to board a car for a tour of a variety of ancient Chinese architectural styles, such as gates and bridges.

    Following the tour, visitors are invited to listen to a “dialogue” between China’s ancient and modern cities in a corridor which has screens installed on both sides showing images of cities of the two eras.

    Before returning to ground level, visitors go through a green area, which highlights China’s achievements and future concepts in promoting a low-carbon lifestyle, including water recycling technology and electric cars.

    “I’m proud of the pavilion. It truly demonstrates China’s rich culture and innovation in urban development,” said Huang Yu, a Shanghai resident, who waited for more than an hour in a queue to enter the pavilion.

    Other pavilion dazzlers

    The popularity of the Chinese National Pavilion is shared by pavilions of the United States, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Japan. Access requires visitors to queue for more than three hours but most consider it worth the wait in the scorching sun, including those in wheel chairs and baby strollers.

    Dubbed the “Sensual City,” the France Pavilion is popular with visitors because of a rare display of seven classic paintings, including works by masters Paul Cezanne, Pierre Bonnard, Vincent Van Gogh, Jean- Francois Millet, Edouard Manet and Paul Gauguin.

    The masterpieces include “The Dance Hall in Arles” by Van Gogh, “The Balcony” by Manet and “Woman with Coffee Pot” by Cezanne, which are rarely seen by ordinary art lovers.

    Dubbed “Moon Boat,” the most costly Saudi Arabia Pavilion has visitors swarming in for the exotic Arabian atmosphere and a 1,600-square-meter IMAX screen, which is larger than any other cinema screen on earth. Short films are presented on the screen.

    The U.K. Pavilion, dubbed “Seed Cathedral,” is spell-binding with its 20-meter-high cube-like structure covered by 60 thousand slim, transparent acrylic rods, extending outward and quivering in the breeze.