The World Expo in Shanghai may be over,
For 20 RMB we bought tickets on Saturday for the next day.
The Expo volunteer told us to arrive at 9AM,
when it opened, to avoid the huge line.
After taking line 7 to Yaohua Road,
we had no trouble finding the exit
thanks to this small decal on the floor.
We didn't heed the Expo volunteer's advice
about arriving at 9AM. We arrived at 2:30PM.
Needless to say, we had to wait...and wait...and wait.
Luckily we packed some snacks.
The pavilion is beautifully constructed
and painted with 7 types of red.
It is also known as a "The Oriental Crown"
and has a traditional Dougong style roof.
It is 69.9 meters high or 229.33071 feet tall.
Each overhanging crossbeam has a
Diezhuan character (used on official seals)
related to the compass direction it is facing.
Can you tell which direction this is?
Once inside, we went straight to the top and saw
the digitally animated version of the
"Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" painting.
It is a 130 meters-long by 6.3 meters high (20' x 426')
animated scroll that fades from night to day
every 4 minutes. It is 30 times bigger
than the original painting.
It was definitely a highlight of our visit.
Here is a replica of a section of the original "Riverside" painting.
Maybe you've seen it before?
There are many other displays inside related
to the environment, China's history,
the Expo theme (Better City, Better Life),
innovative green technology, and children's art.
You can also buy Expo merchandise at
stores located on the bottom level.
I got a small, stuffed Haibao mascot.
At night, the pavilion is well lit and looks spectacular!
When you come to Shanghai, you must visit
the China Pavilion...
...but go early!
