Construction began Tuesday on the China exhibition hall for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, dubbed the "oriental crown".
The China hall is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 in the Pudong New District of Shanghai on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River, covering 6.52 hectares and comprising a national hall, a provincial hall, and a hall for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Standing 63 meters tall and red in appearance, the hall takes the shape of an emperor's crown, with the upper layers larger than the lower ones.
"The design of the exhibition hall combines both Chinese cultural elements and international conception," said Yang Xiong, vice mayor of Shanghai and administrative vice director of the Shanghai World Expo executive committee.
According to He Jingtang, head of the design team and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the building is also energy efficient.
"The upper layers could provide shade for the lower ones in summer, and outer walls will be made of special material to utilize solar energy," he said.
Designing schemes have been solicited among Chinese worldwide since this past April 25, and a total of 344 were received.
The executive committee began soliciting designs for exhibitions at the national hall last Monday, with the requirement that it should not only embody the Chinese culture but convey the conceptions of happiness and harmony.
Slated for May 1 to October 31, 2010, the Shanghai Expo will stage a large number of activities and expects to draw 70 million visitors, an average of 400,000 per day.
China plans to invite delegations from more than 200 countries, regions or organizations to the event, making it the largest ever.
More than 180 countries, regions and international organizations have already signaled their intention to attend the expo, according to earlier reports.
Source: Xinhua
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