The world’s most ambitious fair has welcomed its last visitor! World Expo in Shanghai 2010 officially ended on October 31. Looking back, it proved to be the most expensive fair in all the history of fairs in the world. With 200 participating countries, the Chinese and foreign audience of more than 70 million visitors during the past six months have got a glimpse of the many perspectives of our time regarding this year’s theme; “Better City, better Life”. Around half of the earth’s population lived in cities by year 2000, which indicates the huge importance of smarter and better city living.
For more than 150 years, world expositions like this have been held in various cities around the globe. The aim is to promote the exchange of ideas and development of the world’s economy, culture, science and technology, to allow exhibitors to display their achievements and improve international relationships.
The main attractions at the fairs are the national pavilions, created by the participating countries themself. For example, when Paris hosted in 1889 the Eiffel tower was build as the entrance arch to the fair. China has lately had some eventful years hosting both the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 and now the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
My name is Marie Lagström and I have the great pleasure of pursuing an internship here at TechWatch & Business Innovation for a couple of months. I was also lucky enough to visit both the Olympic Games in Beijing two years ago as well as World Expo in Shanghai this summer. To me, China is an extraordinary country and few things are as liberating and disarming as when you find yourself lost in China. Because for a young Swede with limited mandarin knowledge it simply can’t get any more confusing than that.
I will be here at TWBI until Christmas and I truly hope to see you here many times again before that!
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