Shanghai’s continued pride in hosting the World Expo in 2010 has been demonstrated by the opening of a new museum dedicated to the event and other world’s fairs on Monday.
A world’s fair is a large international exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. The tradition began in the mid-1800s, and recent examples have included the 2012 event in Yeosu, South Korea and the 2015 event in Milan, Italy.
Shanghai’s World Expo Museum (WEM) is the only official museum focused on expos and authorized by the Bureau of International Expositions.
Night view of the World Expo Museum in Shanghai. /VCG Photo
Located on the western bank of the Huangpu River, the museum has eight exhibition halls, occupying an area of about 9,000 square meters. More than 3,000 items will be on display.
An animated version of Song Dynasty painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” that was a highlight of the 2010 World Expo will be presented at the WEM.
Exhibition hall inside the World Expo Museum in Shanghai. /VCG Photo
The museum, which was designed by experts from China, Spain and Italy, has a cloud-shaped glass dome resembling an elaborate crystal. It was constructed with over 3,000 pieces of glass and has instantly become a new landmark in the city.
Seven years ago, on May 1, 2010, the World Expo in Shanghai welcomed its first visitors. With a total of 246 countries and organizations involved in the event, the expo attracted over 73 million visitors.
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