World Expo Shanghai 2010

Shanghai is in the midst of preparing for the World Expo, which begins May 1. This is essentially a World Fair, the biggest in the last 10 years. The preparations and money being spent are immense. Reportedly, the country is spending more money on the Expo than it did on the Beijing Olympics, and that's really saying something. They've even built a new airport to handle the estimated 70 million visitors. From what I can gather, there will be pavilions set up for each country that is participating, sort of like Epcot Center on steroids. There are over 65 countries participating and each building is incredibly stunning visually on the exterior and full of interesting stuff on the inside. For example:

-The Canadian Pavilion has Cirque du Soleil Performing

-The French Pavilion's theme is Romance, and you can get married there for FREE

-Iceland's Pavilion resembles an ice cube

-Macau's is shaped like a rabbit

-The original Little Mermaid from Denmark is being moved for the first time ever to be shown at the Danish Pavilion. She is under heavy guard.

-The Swiss Pavilion has an Alpine chair lift inside of it

-The Mexico Pavilion is not actually a building, but 135 huge kites

-Japan's has artificially intelligent robots assisting

-The UK's has been said to resemble a giant Koosh Ball or a terrified porcupine, but it makes for an awesome looking building

-Saudi Arabia's will have 150 date palms planted on the green roof

-And the Chinese Pavilion is of course 3 times larger than any other! Original artifacts from all over the country are being brought in to showcase.

http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/special-days/shanghai-world-expo-2010/world-expo-shanghai-2010-pavilions-some-favourites/ If you are at all interested in cool looking buildings, check these out. Here is a link to one blog that showcases a few.

Because of the increase in tourism and wanting to put on a nice face for visitors, Shanghai is finally instituting a no smoking in restaurants law and also a ban on honking your horn. It hasn't gone into effect just yet though, and I have been amazed to see people lighting up cigarettes in restaurants here. I can't believe that only a few short years ago it was allowed in the US also, now it seems almost criminal. I felt guilty exposing the kids to the secondhand smoke. Lovisa just doesn't stand for it. Yesterday, she shamed a Chinese woman for smoking in a market and stared her down until the lady put it out. Good for her!

I'm really sorry that we will just be missing the Expo, it seems like it will be a very exciting and rare opportunity.

http://en.expo2010.cn/