NATIONAL PRIDE: A soldier unfurls the national flag in front of the China Pavilion on October 1, the National Day (FEI MAOHUA)

The China Pavilion became the focus of attention on October 1, 2010, as it was the time to celebrate the 61st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as China Pavilion Day at the World Expo in Shanghai.

The Expo was already filled with a jubilant and festive atmosphere on the evening of September 30, with hundreds of Chinese flags—called the "five-starred red flag" for its five yellow stars against a brilliant red background—fluttering in the gentle evening breeze all around the Expo.

At 8 a.m. October 1, with the formal raising of China's national flag, China Pavilion Day celebrations officially commenced. The pavilion day ceremony was held at the Green Hall of the Expo Center at 10:30 a.m.; a cultural show was staged at the Red Hall of the Expo Culture Center at 7:30 p.m.

Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the nation's supreme legislative body, and Vicente Gonzalea Loscertales, Secretary General of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), delivered speeches as part of the morning ceremony. The evening event comprised seven performances, ranging from acrobatics and dance, to throat singing and a solo performance by famed pianist Lang Lang.

The pavilion has been busy since the Expo opened. In fact, many Expo visitors arrive at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. to wait in long queues just so they can make a reservation to visit the China Pavilion.

For China's National Day, visitors to the China Pavilion each got a special gift—a red bag imprinted with the pavilion and pavilion day logo. While waiting to enter the pavilion, visitors were also entertained in the waiting area by percussion performances, ethnic dances and selections from Peking opera. A question-and-answer session was also hosted with the audience. Those who gave correct answers all received an extra souvenir. The special extra was a DVD describing the China Pavilion—including many excellent exhibits such as the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival—as well as the Expo in great detail.

After touring the China Pavilion, visitors all had the opportunity to have a unique pavilion day seal affixed to their Expo passports. They also had the opportunity to have their photo taken in front of a commemorative plaque marking China Pavilion Day.

China's Joint Provincial Pavilion

On China Pavilion Day, visitors to China's Joint Provincial Pavilion could catch sight of a huge, 21 meter-by-0.47-meter painting on the first floor. Entitled The Splendors of All Nations Along the Huangpu River, the painting is the same sentiment as the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. It depicts all the buildings in the Expo, as well as over 7,000 people, including crowds in long queues to enter the park, tourists aboard sightseeing boats on the Huangpu River, and volunteers helping visitors.