The EXPO 2010 world exposition in full swing
photo: (czexpo.com)
The EXPO 2010 world exposition takes place in Shanghai, China from May 1st until October 31st 2010. This year's EXPO is considered to be one of the biggest events in the history of world expositions because there are 192 participating countries and 50 international organisations. It occupies an area of about 5.3 k (map). It is expected that 70 million people will pay a visit to the exposition.
The Czech pavilion attracts a surprisingly high number of people. That can be proven by the fact that more than 5 million people had visited it by the middle of August.
The EXPO 2010 world exposition is often seen as the economical and cultural Olympics of nations. Therefore, the presentation of the Czech Republic has a clear goal: to induce an active interest in our country in the visitors of the Czech pavilion and to introduce the country as an attractive tourist destination, a reliable business partner and a perspective environment for investments.
The Czech national participation at EXPO 2010 is called "The Fruits of Civilisation", which precisely expresses its main topic. The Czech Republic of the third millennium is symbolised as an intersection of all ideas, cultures and technologies. The Czech Republic pavilion covers an area of 2,000
m2. The building represents an imaginary urbanised land. Its X2 exterior
is decorated with a stylised map of the Prague historic centre constructed from 63,415 hockey pucks to symbolise a sport which has brought worldwide fame to the Czech Republic.
Inside the pavilion X2, visitors will find a fictional Czech city made of 20 cubes that symbolise city blocks in which people can create, do magic, manufacture, travel, watch or listen. Among the highlights of the Czech exposition are not only the inventions valued around the world (e.g. contact lenses, the screw propeller, nanofibre or antiviral drugs) but also include historical monuments (e.g.
Charles' Bridge (map),
Prague Castle (map)), art (e.g. The Slav Epic by Mucha) and other wonders (the Prague Astronomical Clock or the all-arounder Jára Cimrman). The most admired exhibit of the Czech pavilion is the
Emotions and Visitors – LacrimAu.
A part of the Czech participation is also an eventful accompanying programme. You can find it
here.
The Chinese city of Chu Chou has already shown interest in the Czech pavilion and they would like to place the building into one of their new quarters. It is yet to be decided about the pavilion's future after the exposition.