Students from Taiwan perform dances of the local Gaoshan ethnic group during the opening ceremony of the Shanghai-Taiwan Expo summer camp on Monday. [Yong Kai / for China Daily]

SHANGHAI - Students from Taiwan and Shanghai staged an amazing art performance at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on Monday, marking the opening of a special summer camp for students from the two sides across the Straits.

Under the invitation of Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, more than 850 students from 16 high schools in Taiwan arrived in Shanghai for the five-day summer camp.

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Han visited Taiwan in April following an invitation from Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin.

During his four-day visit, Han gave an enthralling presentation of Expo 2010 Shanghai to local students and invited them to visit Shanghai during the six-month event. Han also sent Expo 2010 Shanghai's mascot Haibao and 1,600 Expo tickets to Taiwan students as a gift.

Han also promised that his city will host a five-day trip for Taiwan students, who could attend a special summer camp together with Shanghai students.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Taiwan students will visit the Expo Garden, accompanied by Shanghai's high school students.

Wu Ruihan, who is from the Taipei First Girls High School, said she had been looking forward to the trip for a long time.

"I'm very happy to come to Shanghai. Of course, I am a little bit nervous.

"I want to visit the China National Pavilion and Taiwan Pavilion, though I've heard that there is a huge crowd there," she said.

Huang Junzhang, 16, from Taiwan's Lishan High School, said he would most like to see the Germany Pavilion and Africa Unity Pavilion.

"My parents are very glad that I have this opportunity to come to Shanghai and see the Expo. I am also very happy," he said.

"This is my first trip to Shanghai. The city is very beautiful. And Shanghai students are also very nice. We have had a lot of conversations," Huang said.

"The Expo is an important stage to show off the world's advanced technology, and the civilization and progress of human society. It is also a platform for exchange and communication between students from both sides of the Straits. I hope students can draw inspiration from this grand event and learn more from advanced experience of city development," Han Zheng said in his welcome speech.

Meanwhile, Han also sent Expo passports to Taiwan students as a gift, hoping the Expo would give them a wonderful memory of the city.

In addition, a student forum and photography contest will also be held during the summer camp.