Shanghai Expo 2010

Shanghai Expo 2010
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Name	Expo 2010 Shanghai China
Caption	Expo 2010 emblem
Location	Shanghai
Dates	1 May – 31 October 2010
Visitors	73,000,000
Area	5.28 km²
Motto	"Better City, Better Life"

Shanghai Expo 2010 was a world's fair hosted in Shanghai from 1 May to 31 October 2010, themed "Better City, Better Life". The exposition showcased urban design, infrastructure, and cultural exchange through national and corporate pavilions, attracting tens of millions of visitors and engaging institutions such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The event involved cooperation among city agencies like the Shanghai Municipal Government, corporations including China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Siemens, and cultural organizations such as the Palace Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

Background and Bidding

The bid process, coordinated by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), followed precedents set by expos like Expo 2000, Expo 1992 Seville, and Expo 1984 New Orleans. Shanghai's candidacy competed with proposals from cities modeled on urban planning initiatives in Singapore, Barcelona, and Dublin, and drew on China's experiences from events such as the 1990 Asian Games and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Key figures included representatives from the Ministry of Commerce (China), the Shanghai Expo Organizing Committee, and municipal leaders who negotiated with international bodies like the European Commission and delegations from the United States Department of State. The winning bid emphasized urban sustainability themes advocated by scholars affiliated with institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Tianjin University, and the London School of Economics.

Site and Pavilions

The Expo site occupied the Huangpu River waterfront, with principal zones on the Pudong and Puxi banks, connected by bridges and temporary transit lines influenced by projects like the Nanpu Bridge and the Lupu Bridge. Landmark pavilions included the China Pavilion (Expo 2010), designed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and echoing motifs found in the Forbidden City, and the memorable Expo Axis, a structure that involved engineering firms such as Arup Group and Foster + Partners. National pavilions represented countries including United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Italy, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, South Korea, Spain, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Argentina, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Poland, Greece, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Corporate participants included Coca-Cola, General Electric, Siemens, Shell, Hyundai, Samsung, Panasonic, Canon, Toyota, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, LG Electronics, Siemens AG, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, Renault, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Philips, ABB, Bosch, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi.

Participants and Exhibits

More than 190 nations and numerous international organizations exhibited, with contributions from bodies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Olympic Committee, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. Exhibits addressed themes connected to urban planning exemplified by projects at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and case studies from cities like New York City, London, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, São Paulo, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Mumbai, Jakarta, Cairo, Lagos, Istanbul, and Buenos Aires. Curatorial teams included museum professionals from the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the National Museum of China. Technical exhibits drew on research from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Peking University, Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, ETH Zurich, University of Tokyo, and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Attendance and Economic Impact

Official attendance reached approximately 73 million visitors, surpassing figures from Expo 2000 and rivaling turnout at Expo 1889 and Expo 1888. Economic assessments involved analyses by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young. Studies evaluated tourism inflows tied to airlines like China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Shanghai Airlines, and hotel chains including Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Accor. Infrastructure spending connected to projects led by China Railway Engineering Corporation and China Communications Construction Company influenced regional development metrics used by think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation research centers.

Cultural and Educational Programs

The Expo hosted performing arts and educational programs featuring ensembles and institutions like the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet of China, Royal Shakespeare Company, Bolshoi Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Metropolitan Opera, Juilliard School, Royal College of Music, Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and the National Gallery. Academic conferences drew scholars from the World Urban Forum, the International Federation of Landscape Architects, the Urban Land Institute, UN-Habitat, ICLEI, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, and universities including Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, and University of Cambridge. Educational outreach partnered with organizations like the Red Cross, the UNICEF, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Smithsonian Institution, and foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Legacy and Urban Development

Post-expo reuse and redevelopment involved conversion of pavilions and land into cultural districts, parks, and commercial space, engaging developers like Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation and institutions such as the Shanghai Museum and the China Art Museum (former China Pavilion). Transportation upgrades linked to the expo accelerated projects including the Shanghai Metro, expansions influenced by rolling stock suppliers like CRRC Corporation Limited and signaling firms such as Alstom. Urban planning legacies referenced comparative studies with cities revitalized after major events such as Barcelona (1992 Summer Olympics), London (2012 Summer Olympics), Beijing (2008 Summer Olympics), and urban regeneration in Bilbao. Long-term assessments were conducted by academic centers like the Asia Development Research Institute, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the National University of Singapore urban studies program.

Category:World's fairs Category:2010 in China Category:Shanghai