Beijing Expo 2019: Rustic ambient beauty of the China Pavilion
Updated 17:51, 26-Apr-2019
By Jiang Qingrui
["china"]
‍With only three days left before the start of the highly anticipated 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition, or Beijing Expo 2019, do you know all its major pavilions?
They are the China, International, Botany and Life Experience Pavilions. There is also the "Gui Rui" performing arts center.
In this article, CGTN offers an in-depth look at the China Pavilion and its unique presentation of Chinese culture.
The China Pavillion at Beijing Expo 2019. /VCG Photo

The China Pavillion at Beijing Expo 2019. /VCG Photo

Located right at the front of the No.1 Gate of the exhibition center and with a lake at its back, the China Pavilion takes the shape of a ruyi. In Chinese culture, a ruyi symbolizes good wishes for the future, as its name translates to "as you wish" or "realize your will." Thus, the structure also represents blessings and good luck.
The curved golden roof of the Pavilion was inspired by the Dougong (interlocking wooden bracket) and Sunmao (a kind of wooden joint) structures from ancient Chinese architecture. The eaves go upward gracefully at the two ends, like bird's wings, which counterbalances the massiveness of the building.
A bird's eye view of the China Pavilion. /VCG Photo

A bird's eye view of the China Pavilion. /VCG Photo

The roof also has a rainwater-containing system, which can store water which will be used to irrigate the terraced fields nearby.
The terraced fields wind around the area, directly below the golden roof. At the center of the building's square lies a turntable platform, upon which are inscribed divisions representing the 24 solar terms of China's ancient agrarian calendar.
The gabion walls surrounding the terraced fields and the five-colored grains in them, the plain rocks paved on the square, add up to give the place a rustic ambience.
The eave of the China Pavilion. /CGTN Photo

The eave of the China Pavilion. /CGTN Photo

The design also takes inspiration from ancient wisdom. In the primitive ages, people dwelt in wooden shelters to elude pests and snakes. They also used mountain caves to hide from the high heat in summer and extreme coldness in winter.
To adjust the temperature in an energy-efficient way, the air-conditioning system here comprises of an underground tunnel, from which the air can be pre-cooled in summer and pre-heated in winter before finally entering the electric system, significantly saving the amount of energy needed.
An interior look of the China Pavilion. /CGTN Photo

An interior look of the China Pavilion. /CGTN Photo

During the Beijing Expo 2019, the two-layered building will offer visitors a full spectrum of flowers and plants in China. On the second floor, which is exactly the space under the roof, there is a pillarless area that will provide a seamless view of the gardening works inside.
If you're impressed by the ecological and culture-based China Pavilion, don't miss the Beijing Expo 2019 which opens on April 29. Besides the China Pavilion, there's a lot more that will be going on at the exhibition, such as gardening arts, rare exotic plants, new ecological concepts and much more. And, to experience it all, stay tuned to CGTN.
(Cover: A view of China Pavilion in Beijing Expo 2019. /CGTN Photo)