Representatives from some 30 cities from Chinese mainland and
overseas will be invited to present their achievements in urban
development at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, its organizers said
recently.
In keeping with the event's city theme, a 100,000-square- meter
"Urban Best Practice Area" will be set aside for the displays. This
will consist of a central square with exhibits detailing the global
challenges facing most cities, plus four rows of pavilions in which
the representatives will be able to present the methods and
techniques they have employed. The pavilions will also feature a
multi-functional "simulated community", said the organizers.
The idea to have the Urban Best Practice Area was very much
inspired by the expo's main theme, "Better City, Better Life," said
Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo
Coordination. It is expected to be one of the event's main
attractions.
The 2010 expo will be the first to introduce the concept of the
"holistic" city, and Shanghai is preparing to present a master plan
of its own city perspective, detailing historic and futuristic,
domestic and international elements.
"The Urban Best Practice Area will focus on introducing the
successful experiences, in terms of sustainable urban development,
of cities from around the world. It will be a huge exhibition of
innovative ideas, technologies and projects, all of which have been
successfully utilized in the development of the cities on display,"
Zhou said.
For example, cities that have employed advanced energy-saving
techniques and technologies will be invited to present their
achievements at the expo, he said.
Zhou said that his organizing committee would compile a
preliminary list of cities it would like to attend the event. This
will then be passed to an international selection committee, which
comprises a number of organizations, such as the UN-Habitat and
various departments of the Chinese government. Once the list is
finalized, the organizers will contact the selected cities and
invite them to participate.
"A few cities outside Chinese mainland have already contacted us
to express their interest in the Urban Best Practice project. At
previous World Expos, the majority of the participants were
countries and international organizations, but this time we will
welcome more cities to the event," Zhou said.
The Urban Best Practice Area will be located in Puxi, close to
the Theme Pavilions. According to Tang Shifang, a senior manager
with Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Corporation, a special "world
map" will also be displayed in the city-themed square at a special
urban zone.
"By standing on the world map, visitors will be able to see what
kind of environmental and ecological problems are threatening the
regions beneath their feet," Tang said.
Most of the pavilions to be used to exhibit the cities'
achievements will be built from the former factory workshops, which
stand on the expo site. The simulated community will comprise three
areas - residential, office space and leisure facilities - and will
cover several blocks, he said.
"It will epitomize the perfect city and be a place where our
invited guests can show off their successful urban practices and
accomplishments," said Tang.
(China Daily March 22, 2007)