China Pavilion on hiatus after Expo
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Visitors at the Expo Park pose Wednesday along the Expo Axis in front of a display of flowers arranged in the shape of a Chinese flag ahead of National Day Friday. Photo: Ni Dandan |
Visitors without any luck getting their hands on a reservation ticket for entry to the China Pavilion may have a better chance after the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai concludes, when the structure reopens to the public on December 1.
Among the handful of permanent structures inside the Expo Park - and one of the most popular - will take a month to refresh before reopening to visitors, Qian Zhiguang, deputy director of the China Pavilion, told reporters at a press conference in the park Wednesday.
"When the Expo is over the equipment in our pavilion will have been running for 184 consecutive days, and at that time, it will really require a thorough maintenance check," he added.
Qian was, however, unable to answer questions on further details, saying that plans to remain open after the Expo are still under discussion. He refuted earlier news that the pavilion would stay open for an additional six months, but offered no new timeline.
China Pavilion officials Wednesday took advantage of the media opportunity to announce its plans for the National Day tomorrow, which will start with a morning flag-raising ceremony outside the structure at 8 am. Visitors will then be invited inside the pavilion to watch a pair of new video tributes to the motherland as they mark the October 1 holiday.
"They will present the life of Chinese people and the new images of new Chinese cities," said Qian. "We believe that the audience will feel the growing strength of our country through the two short films."
Though some 700 Chinese and foreign VIPs and 51,000- plus visitors expected to pass through the pavilion tomorrow will "have to wait to find out some other surprises," returning visitors can expect a few twists," said Xu Hubin, director of the China Pavilion.
A bronze chariot from the tomb belonging to China's first emperor Qinshihuang in Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC) has been the main attraction for visitors to the pavilion, which has so far received some 7.5 million visitors.
The structure increased its original daily capacity of 35,000 visitors to its absolute maximum of 52,000 after the first month of operations to accommodate more visitors due to popular demand. Reservation tickets to the China Pavilion are handed out daily at entrance gates of the park at 9 am.
