More tourists

Expo 2010 Shanghai has greatly promoted tourism in Shanghai and nearby cities. About 4.61 million visitors came to Shanghai from January to July, 33.9 percent more than the same period last year. A recent survey by CCTV showed that 56.1 percent of visitors who stayed overnight in Shanghai visited Expo more than once. Traditional low seasons are not low this year and peak seasons witness a surging number of visitors.

CHINANEWS.COM.CN

Solving gridlocks

Traffic plays a vital role in the running of a city. Quality of urban life will be greatly enhanced if traffic is efficient and enjoyable. In the Urban Best Practices Area at the Expo, several solutions to traffic problems may inspire Chinese cities. These include bicycle lanes and encouraging more cyclists, developing rail-bus systems, and managing a car rental system. Take car-sharing programs for example; 1,000 private cars can be replaced by 160 publicly shared cars. If a car share is running in Shanghai, about 180,000 people are estimated to join the program.

CHINA.COM.CN

Expo 101

Expo Studies, a new academic field, has emerged as a result of Expo 2010 Shanghai, marking a new age of exploration about the Expo in the nation. Cultures, technologies, rules, ethics, diplomacy, aesthetics, economics, sociology and history - all of these fields may find their topics in an Expo. Chinese academics value theories. After studying so many World Expos, Chinese academics feel obliged to synthesize and conclude the thinking and findings about the Expo.

EASTDAY.COM

(China Daily 09/17/2010)