Barcelona, Spain, has presented a special gift to the 2010 World Expo - an exact replica of Antonio Gaudi's Dragon in celebration of the event.

Antonio Gaudi Dragon, the symol representing the city of Barcelona

A farewell ceremony was held in Barcelona late last month, attended by Manuel Romera, the Regional Executive Director of La Caixa, and Wang Shixiong, the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Barcelona. It was chaired by Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu.

Gaudi Dragon is a symbol representing the city of Barcelona. The replica is 3.28 meters long, 1.65 wide and 1.82 meters high. It weighs 12 tons.

The sculpture will be exhibited at the Spain Pavilion and remain permanently in Shanghai after the Expo.

It was presented because it is the first time that cities will have their own space for display in World Expo and the close relationship between the two cities, Barcelona officials said. Shanghai and Barcelona signed a sister city agreement in 2001.

(en.expo2010.cn January 19, 2010)