China unveils grand pavilion at 2010 World Expo
Updated: 2008-02-18 10:50
Below the main structure, there will be a 45,000-square-meter joint pavilion featuring the displays from local provinces, cities and regions.
A special kind of zhuan, or seal style of Chinese calligraphy, is to be used to write the names of local participants on the outside wall of the pavilion.
The strokes of this kind of calligraphy will be "folded" into horizontal or vertical lines, to give a window-like appearance.
The Jiangsu Province style of garden landscaping has been chosen for the pavilion.
This style is commonly seen in cities such as Yangzhou or Suzhou, which are both in neighboring Jiangsu Province.
The Jiangnan (region south of the Yangtze River) gardens feature delicate arrangements, pavilions and tranquil ponds, which will give visitors a relaxing sanctuary from the urban environment outside.
But the pavilion design has already attracted some criticism, with critics saying that the information conveyed through the design is too complicated and too symbolized.
"A striking project certainly will trigger different opinions," said He Jingtang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief designer of the China Pavilion project.
Defending the design from accusations that it was too esoteric, the nearly 70-year-old professor described it as "a statue of China standing in the garden of a city."
Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination Deputy Director, Huang Jianzhi, said the pavilion is reminiscent of China at first sight, "striking and memorable."
The new pavilion will be a new landmark for Shanghai and a legacy for the rest of China, the organizers said.
The China Pavilion includes a national pavilion, a joint pavilion for provinces and cities, and separate pavilions for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Provinces and cities in the joint pavilion will have a 600-square-meter space and are required to submit their preliminary exhibition plans before April.
Construction has started on all the permanent structures in the Expo site, including the China Pavilion.
The pavilion will be converted into a museum for Chinese history and culture after the Expo closes in 2010.
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