A Green Idea at Alsace Case Pavilion of France in Expo 2010 Shanghai

Alsace Case Pavilion

City Pavilions display best urban practices at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Many of them have adopted an idea to promote low-carbon lifestyle. The Alsace Case Pavilion is one of the three French regions participating independently in Expo 2010 (The other two regions are Paris and Rhone-Alpes). Located at the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) in the Expo Puxi section, the Alsace Case Pavilion demonstrates a construction model in energy saving and environmental protection. The model applies a unique way using solar and water power to generate domestic electricity for cooling and heating systems in summer and winter respectively. The power is generated using the capsule-type solar water curtain wall technology. On the frontal part of the pavilion building, there is a water-skin solar powered wall. Next to the water-skin wall, there is an amazing green wall filled with living plants.

The water-skin wall consists of two layers of glass panels. Trapped air in the wall layers is pumped up to the roof of the building and circulated back by the solar power which is channeled through photovoltaic panels. The external window-type glass panes automatically open and close in the adjustment to the sunlight intensity and outdoor temperature. Such adjustment helps saving energy by providing sunshades and allowing air circulation into the wall layers. During the summer time, the outer glass panes open and water keeps pouring down on the inner glass panes to cool down the indoor temperature.

This interesting system is just like our skin that can breathe to maintain body temperature at a stable level.

The green building Alsace Case Pavilion

Iceland Pavilion at Expo 2010 - Small is Beautiful

Iceland Pavilion

Iceland Pavilion is one of my favorite programs in Shanghai Expo 2010. It has a comparatively shorter waiting queue when comparing with most popular pavilions. Iceland was seriously affected by the global financial crisis in 2008, and it was threatened by a volcano eruption early this year. The Iceland Pavilion has a mediocre outlook. Therefore, people don't expect that the Icelandic government puts much resources in the current world exposition. In fact, the financial cost is partially supported by business companies. The Expo is a bridge for the Icelandic business entities to land China. The Iceland Pavilion is small but beautiful in the presentation. All my friends who have been there also highly praise it. When entering the pavilion, we immediately developed an Icelandic feel because the hall was very cold. This was a very pleasant refreshing sensation after waiting for half an hour in the very hot weather at the pavilion entrance. With limited resources, the pavilion provides visitors with the best entertaining program.

There is solely a cubic hall inside the pavilion, and there are no decorations at all. All around the four sides of the hall are white screens. In a small area, the pavilion provides visitors with a stunning effect by making movie projections on the four sides as well as the ceiling of the hall. The movie mainly presents the Icelandic natural landscapes and disturbances including glaciers, waterfalls, oceans, geysers, and volcanic eruptions and explosions. When the waterfall image was projecting on the ceiling of the theater hall, we developed an on-site feel that the waterfall ran over our heads. When there were millions of fishes swimming over us, we had an illusion that we were under the deep sea. The amazing visual effect was reflected by the bizarre applause from the audience. 

The Iceland Pavilion is always full of visitors. The monthly number of visitors to the Iceland Pavilion at Expo Shanghai on June 1, 2010 has exceeded the total population of the Icelandic nation.

An amazing visual effect is developed when the movie is also projecting on the ceiling of the theater hall.

Spain Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai

Spain Pavilion

The Spain Pavilion is one of the great attractions in Shanghai Expo 2010. Occupying an area around 6,000 square meters in Zone C of the Pudong section, the pavilion shows its creative architectural design which has won the prestigious international architecture award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). With the applications of natural materials and advanced technologies, the pavilion features like a hand-weaved rattan basket in beautiful wave shape. That is why the pavilion is also named as the Spanish Basket. The Basket, in fact, is supported by a steel skeleton hidden in the coverage of thousands of wicker panels. The design allows a large amount of sunlight peeping into the indoor areas. Visitors will recognize the benefit of the design particularly at the final exhibition hall. There are three sections in the exhibitions to interpret the theme of the pavilion, "From the city of our parents to the City of Our Children".

The giant baby

The first part of the exhibitions is the most entertaining program. Visitors enter a dark hall which looks rather like a big cave tunnel. Movies are projected on the walls of the cave to produce a stunning effect, including stormy ocean, thunder and lightning, galloping horses, bull running festival, basketball and football matches. In between the movies, there is a staged Flamenco dancing performance. The dancing girl lies down in the dark for a rest during the movie presentation. If visitors have walked fast during this period, they may have missed the live performance. The second section of the exhibitions presents the Spanish history, culture, and urban development in the recent 60 years. Videos are projected on multiple screens hanging around the exhibition hall in different directions. In the final section, an electronic giant baby is displayed in sitting position. The robotic baby is very sweet and cute. He can breathe and turn his head. When he is blinking his eyes, soap bubbles fall down from the top of the exhibition hall. Many child visitors enjoy very much of this program.  

During the period of the Shanghai World Expo 2010, Spain won the football world cup for the first time in the history. Spain made a breakthrough 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup final at South Africa on July 12, 2010. The joy of the triumph also extended to Shanghai. A banner in Chinese language "Everybody is the champion" was hoisted at the Spain Pavilion in the following morning.

 

Flamenco dancing performance in the Spain Pavilion

Spain - "From the City of Our Parents"

Spain Pavilion - "To the City of Our Children"
 

The Madrid Best Practices Case in Expo 2010 Shanghai

In the Madrid Case Pavilion

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is one of the greenish cities in the world. Owning a case pavilion at the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) in Expo 2010 Shanghai, Madrid demonstrates an environmental friendly social housing project as developed by its municipal government for the low-income citizens. There are two parts in the exhibitions, namely the Bamboo House and Air Tree. The Bamboo House mainly serves for displays and exhibitions. The Air Tree provides visitors with a comfortable open area for a rest. The exhibition pathway begins at the top floor of the Bamboo House, and it is connected with an escalator  from the ground level where visitors are waiting for admissions. There are separated entrances leading to the Spanish restaurant and souvenir shop. The entire building duplicates the design of the Madrid public housing with the application of ecological materials and installation of renewable energy resources. The outer layer of the House is encrusted with bamboo bark for the purpose of temperature control as well as noise insulation.

Bamboo House (L), Air Tree (R)

The Air Tree, which is adjacent to the Bamboo House, is a cylindrical structure covered all around with large movable window shades. During the day, shades are open to facilitate natural ventilation in the Air Tree. When shades are closed, they become the double-side projection screens for movies and light show performances in the evening. Wind wheels are equipped on the top of the structure, and there is a giant fan turning to ventilate the area under the Tree. Visitors enjoy listening to the lovely music while resting in a refreshing area. The Air Tree can also be served as a platform for a mini concert.

If you visit the Madrid Case Pavilion for the purpose of collecting a stamp, the Pavilion will not make you feel disappointed. A full collection of the stamps from the Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona Case Pavilions for your Expo passport will give you the priority to enter the Spain Pavilion through the fast access channel. If you are a fans of the Real Madrid Football Club, you will certainly get something that makes you feel excited.



A mini concert under the Air Tree at the Madrid Case Pavilion UBPA

Reopening of Fast Admissions to Spain Pavilion Expo 2010

Madrid Case Pavilion stamp

The Spain Pavilion, located in the Pudong section, is a popular attraction in Shanghai Expo 2010. Please refer to my video gallery for its videos. Due to its popularity, the admission queue is always very long. As mentioned in my previous blog dated August 13, 2010, visitors could skip queuing by going through the fast track channel with the required passports. To be eligible for the fast access, visitors have to collect a total of 3 stamps from the Case Pavilions of Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao in the Urban Best Practices Area in Puxi. Stamps have to be chopped on the souvenir passports. Due to the problems of fake stamps and passports, the channel was suspended for a period of 2 weeks starting at the end of August. To cope with the problem, a new set of stamps has been issued. The collection of stamps has now resumed and the fast track channel reopens for the Spain Pavilion.

The Spain Pavilion is one of my favorite programs in Expo 2010 Shanghai. It is worth visiting.  At the time of our visit in May 2010, the fast track channel for Spain Pavilion wasn't yet available. We went through the general admission route and spent 40 minutes on the waiting queue in the peak-time early afternoon. Comparing to many popular pavilions in Expo 2010, the queue-up time was not too bad at all. Although the queue was long, it moved fast.

Update on the Official Expo Online Lucky Draw

Ten visitors who had been to the Italy online tour at http://en.expo2010.cn won a lucky draw of a VIP tour at the real Italy Pavilion on September 9, 2010. Each of them also received a gift set including a flute concert ticket, a bottle of Italian red wine, and a souvenir pavilion pin. For the forthcoming lucky draw from the official Expo online offer, people who visit the virtual Australia online pavilion between 10:00am and 2:00pm Shanghai local time on Monday, September 13, 2010 will have a chance to win one of the 20 fast-access passes to the real Australia Pavilion.

Update on the Visitor Count

Since the opening of the Expo 2010 on May 1, 2010, the visitor count has accumulated a total number of 50 millions on the 133rd day yesterday, September 10, 2010. The Expo 2010 will run through a course of 184 days till October 31, 2010.

Q&A Shanghai 2010 Expo Tickets

Used ticket with embossed words

Since the news release regarding the discontinuation of standard-day ticket sales, people have become anxious about getting Expo admission tickets. Please refer to my previous blogs for the Expo ticketing  policy change and classifications of admission tickets dated August 30, 2010 and May 4, 2010 respectively. In summary, standard-day tickets serve for regular-day admissions. Peak-day tickets are used on a designated date but not limited to regular days. Evening tickets can only be utilized between 5:00pm and 9:00pm for admissions. Peak-day tickets and evening tickets are referred as intraday tickets. To clarify people's concerns, I hereby highlight the key information in answering most common questions appeared on online discussion forums.

Can I still get standard-day tickets?

Information from Expo official website (http://en.expo2010.cn) indicated that standard-day tickets (both single-day and multiple-day) are no more available at official ticket-scales points. However, as far as I know, standard single-day tickets accompanied with round trip transport between hotels and Expo site can still be purchased through some of the appointed travel agents. Prices vary among different agencies in Shanghai. To date, both standard single-day and peak-day tickets are available at the Hong Kong office of the China Travel Service Limited which is an authorized Expo travel agent. One may make inquiries to the authorized agents at his/ her country. For example, Peregrine Travel, Inc. and Tian Bao Travel Ltd. are the authorized agents for the USA and Canada respectively.

Can I buy Expo tickets from the local supermarkets or convenience stores in Shanghai?

As there are no more supplies for standard-day tickets, it is quite a great possibility that tickets have run out in supermarkets and convenience stores.Try you luck. That depends on their stocks.

Can I purchase tickets on Expo site?

Yes, on-site tickets are available for sales at Expo entrances. Statistics revealed that around 25,000 to 32,000 day-tickets were sold each day at entrances in the past week. This represents 11.0% to 12.5% of the total daily admissions to the Exp park. Sales of evening tickets ranged between 10,000 and 16,000 (5% - 6% of the total daily admissions) each day from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.

Where can I get next-day tickets?

People can purchase next-day tickets between 4:00pm and 08:50pm at the Expo entrances of Luban Road, South Xizang Road, Bansongyuan Road, Bailianjing Road, West Gaoke Road, Shangnan Road, Changging Road, Houtan, Madang Road, and Dongchang Road Watergate.

Where can I purchase peak-day tickets?

Peak-day tickets for October are available at authorized ticketing sales points such as Bank of Communications, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Post, as well as authorized travel agents. You have to specify a date for the purchase. For the address of the official point of sales, please refer to my blog dated July 31, 2010.

Can I purchase admission tickets for the last day of the Expo?

To date, ticket sales for admissions to the Expo on the last day, i.e. October 31, 2010, are still available at the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd. If it is run out at one of the sales points in Shanghai, you may try searching the others. The demand and supply may vary among different ticket sales outlets.

My friends passed a 3-day ticket to me and said it can be used for one more day. How can I find out whether the ticket is still valid?

Used tickets have embossing stamp "Expo 2010 Expo 2010" at both edges of the tickets. See attached photo for a used ticket. These words are pressed on the ticket on the last day passing through the Expo gate.