On December 3, 2002, at the 132nd general assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with 54 votes, 88 percent of ballots, Shanghai won its bid to host World Expo 2010.

Distinguished from conventional trade fairs, World Expo is an exhibition-based public show, committed to conveying concepts. Since the First World Expo held in London in 1851, this all-inclusive gala, held in varying countries at regular intervals, has served as a stage upon which the participating countries may exhibit their respective achievements in economics, science, technology, culture and social progress. It has evolved into a window showcasing the civilization of all human beings. Over the past 100-plus years, with constantly enriched forms and continuously extending connotation, the pageant conveyed the ideals of advancing technology and developing civilization, as well as aspirations for a better future for humanity. And it served as a platform for mankind to display achievements, raise levels of acumen, synthesize wisdom, create dreams, and promote civilization.

China’s tie with the World Expo can be traced back to the first event. In 1851, Shanghai merchant Xu Rongcun brought an exhibit of self-made “Huzhuo Silk” to the First Expo; in 1904, China dispatched her first government delegation to the Expo, then held in St. Louis; in 1982, after its founding, New China first participated in the World’s Fair and Energy Expo, held in Knoxville; and in 2010, China’s cosmopolitan city of Shanghai will host the global pageant. In the long span of more than a century, Chinese governmental delegations and civil individuals have participated and visited nearly all the past Expos. Meanwhile, the events have witnessed the growth of China’s national power and her independent rise.

Thematic Theory

March 2009 saw the blooming of apricot flowers along the bustling cityscape of Shanghai — a feature typical to the city in this season. Besides these natural adornments, the emblems, mascot images and the artistic promotional posters of the World Expo 2010 added energy and anticipation to this modern metropolis.

The 2010 Expo, set to commence on May 1, will be staged as an Oriental spectacle, and Shanghai is accelerating its pace of preparation.

In fact, the prelude of the Shanghai Expo began as far back as 10 years ago. At the end of 2000, after 18 months of deliberate consideration and discussion, the Chinese team bidding to host the 2010 Expo decided upon the theme of “Better City, Better Life.” This became Shanghai Expo’s leading edge promotional concept.

The Shanghai Expo shares a notable common trait with the Chicago Expo of 1933: Both coincide with a global economic downturn. It was beginning in 1933 that each of the World Expos took on a specific theme. The themes serving the past Expos can be generally divided into three categories: Exhibiting mankind’s scientific and technological achievements in conquering nature; advocating human harmony apart from pure praise of technological advancement; focusing on relations between man and nature, as reflected in the fields of environment, pollution control and energy. Based on the varying themes, the past Expos exhibited new breakthroughs and innovations in science and technology and the cultural diversity of different countries, triggering in-depth research, discussion and consideration of the future development path of human beings.

In the 21st Century, as the global population of urban dwellers has increased to account for nearly 50 percent of the total on our planet, city-related topics have become the focus of wide attention. Under such a circumstance, the tough yet mandatory question of how to create a better city life while utilizing resources effectively and economically was valued and responded to by China as the first-ever theme of its kind in the history of the World Expo.

According to an officer at the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, China’s success in bidding for the 2010 Expo is attributable to not only the country’s daily-increasing attractions, but also a bonus brought by the uniquely designed theme, which has hit a responsive chord worldwide. China is working to represent this theme not only within, but also far beyond, the area of Shanghai Expo Park.

According to the development plan, Expo Park will cover a total area of 5.28 square kilometers, spanning both sides of the Huangpu River. The enclosed area will cover 3.28 square kilometers, equivalent to half of the Luwan District of Shanghai. Of the buildings and facilities to be relocated for the Expo were the old plants of the Shanghai No. 3 Iron & Steel Co. and the docks and slipways of the Jiangnan Shipyard Co., which is dubbed as the cradle of contemporary Chinese national industry. These two industrial bases were located on the edge of the city a decade ago when Shanghai applied for hosting the Expo, but as a result of the rapid urban construction of Shanghai, they are now part of the city proper. After relocation, these factories will be technically upgraded, and will hence gain a broader production and development space while effectively reducing emissions of industrial pollutants.

Additionally, some 18,000 households were relocated for the construction of the Expo site. Previously, most of the structures were brick and wood standing since the 1970s. In resettling these residents, the government constructed new residential quarters and provided cash compensation.