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.