China Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
The China Pavilion is the largest national pavilion at Shanghai’s 2010 World Expo and the biggest display in all the Expos. The China pavilion’s central location at the Expo implies that China acts as the host country. The Hong Kong and Macau pavilions are close to the China Pavilion. The display starts on May 1, 2010, and ends on October 31 in the same year.
The pavilion, about 70 meters high, is the tallest construction of the Shanghai World Expo. The roof, with a 30-meter height is made up of 56 wooden brackets, which represent 56 ethnic minorities in China. The China Pavilion, known as “The Crown of the East”, adopts the traditional Chinese Dougong structure, which has been used for over 2000 years. It is painted in Chinese red, which is mixed with a lot of different red colors.
Three Highlights
There are 3 highlights of the China Pavilion at the Expo 2010. The first highlight is to explore the “Oriental Footprint". Several different-style programs show the Chinese wisdom in urban developments. The urbanization experience since the reform and opening policy was put into practice is displayed through a video playing in the multimedia exhibition. The famous painting, Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, is shown in a 3D way in the China Pavilion to express the wisdom of Chinese classical cities. And plenty of people are touched by the amazing painting in the China Pavilion.
The second highlight talks about the experience journey. A train tour with a conversation between the past and the present of China perfectly displays the wisdom of Chinese construction plans to visitors. The trip is full of surprises and discovery experiences.
The third highlight is to focus on a low-carbon future. Urbanization in China in the future will be achieved in a low-carbon way.
How to Visit The China Pavilion
China Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo, renamed to China Art Palace, is freely open to the public now. Visitors only need to make an appointment 2 days ahead.
- The display at the China Art Palace is still an extended trial exhibition. People can make an appointment online, get tickets at the ticket service center the next day, and visit the palace on the third day. There are 8400 tickets to book every day.
- Visitors can make an appointment online from 10:00 to 17:00 except Saturdays. The China Art Palace doesn’t open on Monday, and the ticket service center stops working on Sunday.
- Real information, including name, telephone, and a valid passport, is necessary. People can also make an appointment for another 2 companies at the same time. Each valid passport is accepted once a month.
- The original China Theme Pavilion, which now has a new identity as the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art, is also free to people with an appointment.
How to Get There?
It is located near Guozhan Road and Yuntai Road within Zone A of the Expo Site, in Putong New Area.
If you start at Shanghai railway station, you could take Metro Line 1(Xinzhuang - Gongfuxincun) and change into Metro Line 8 at the People's Square Station, then get off at Yaohua Road Station or Yuntai Road Station; you can still take Metro Line 1 and change to Metro Line 2, then take Metro Line 7 and get off at Yaohua Road Station or Yuntai Road Station.
- Ticket Price: Free
- Opening Hours: China Art Palace is open between 09:00 to 17:00 except Monday and is not accessible after 16:00. There are four periods to visit the palace a day.
- More Tips: There are 7 parking lots near the China Pavilion.