Eyes Wide Open

by Chen Ran

The question I was asked most frequently after my business trip to Shanghai in early May was, "How do you feel about the World Expo?" The follow-up was often, "Did you have fun there?"

As a travel addict, I had high expectations for the 2010 Expo long before it opened on May 1 – partly because of its catchy slogan "Seeing the world without going abroad."

I could not stop myself from dreaming of visiting all the pavilions of the 246 participating countries and organizations with a fully-stamped Expo passport, trying mouthwatering cuisines from all over the world, shopping for souvenirs, and even winning an overseas trip free of charge.

As a Beijing-based journalist, however, I was obliged to explore the six-month event and its host city in a more objective way to cover its theme "Better City, Better Life."

How to be a better city? Will a better city guarantee a better life? What would be Shanghai look like in the post-Expo era? Here at the Expo site, one might find the answers.

On the night of April 30, as crowds oohed and aahed at the opening ceremony's outdoor show of lights, music fountains and fireworks alongside the Huangpu River, I was excited about my discovery of 2,000 benches for the outdoor audience, each of which was made from 856 recycled milk and soft drink containers. The garbage recycling that the government had been promoting for years, at this moment, made real sense.

Honestly, I was a bit concerned about the long lines in front of popular pavilions, particularly after reading the Expo tour tips posted online by visitors during the event's trial run in April. Given that I had no faith in my patience, my round-the-world tour on the first opening day started at the African Joint Pavilion simply because there was no line.

A total of 42 African countries and the African Union were represented in the 9,500-square-meter hall, the largest of its kind at the Expo site. Upon entering the hall, I was soon overwhelmed by thousands of people who happened to share my idea.

Africa, in most people's minds, is famous for its wildlife and rich cultures. But what I learned from the photos, videos and posters inside was African peoples' wisdom and efforts in dealing with issues of urbanization.

When the curtain falls on October 31, what else will the Expo leave besides permanent structures, namely the China Pavilion, the Theme Pavilion, the Expo Center, the Performance Center, and the Expo Axis?