CARNIVAL RIDE: Colorful parades give the China Pavilion Day a festive air (CFP)

The Hunan Pavilion's big screen replayed TV footage of the National Day celebration and parade in Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2009—the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Every one to two hours, staff at the Hainan Pavilion distributed little red national flag decals to visitors. Visitors put the colorful decals on their cheeks, arms or any other spot they could think of.

On China Pavilion Day, a creative industry exhibit also opened at the Hong Kong Pavilion as part of the celebration. Visitors to the exhibition were given a first-day cover as a souvenir. These were provided to Expo visitors for only three days during the entire period of the Shanghai Expo—May 1, the opening day of the Expo; July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty; and October 1, China's National Day. The number of covers given out during these three days totaled nearly 100,000.

Amid lively singing and dancing programs, visitors to the Xinjiang Pavilion also received a special treat on October 1. They could watch authentic ethnic dances and get special souvenirs such as exquisitely made umbrellas from the pavilion staff.

In addition, colorful and boisterous parades were also organized at Africa Square, the BaoSteel Stage, the Greenland Expo Square, Oceania Square, as well as other venues throughout the Expo.

Looking Beyond the Expo

On October 1, the China Pavilion received 150 Chinese and foreign distinguished guests, while regular Expo visitors who had made reservations were admitted as usual. Although the pavilion seemed somewhat more crowded than usual during the peak hours, public order at the pavilion was perfectly maintained.

Statistics from the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination indicate that by September 29, the China Pavilion had received nearly 21.15 million visitors, including 7.48 million visitors to the China Pavilion and 13.67 million visitors to China's Joint Provincial Pavilion. Deputy Director of the China Pavilion, Qian Zhiguang, said the China Pavilion distributed 35,000 reservation passes each day to visitors in the early days of the Expo, but now the number hits 52,000 each day.

The China Pavilion is the initiator of the Expo theme, "Better City, Better Life." Viewing the exhibition sections of Footprint of the East, Journey of Wisdom and Blossoming City, one could feel Chinese wisdom in urban development and look forward to a brighter future for cities in the days ahead.

Just as Vicente Gonzalea Loscertales said in his speech at the China Pavilion Day celebration ceremony, "Cities and regions, local communities and provinces along with official and non-official participants have made the richness of this Expo. This shows how the Expo values of education, innovation and cooperation have enabled organizers and participants alike to build bridges and engage in a joint global dialogue which is also focused on finding concrete ways to fulfill the Expo theme of 'Better City, Better Life.'"