A morning open in my agenda: off to the Expo! I take a taxi to the special subway station, ManDang Lu and JianGuo Lu (line 13, which connects to line 9) – best way I am told to access the grounds of the Expo, and I believe that: the subway is easy to navigate in Shanghai, even if one does not speak or read a word of Chinese. Stations names are written in pinyin, and are called in English over the PA system! Must say the subway gives a pretty good idea of the development of this city over the last twenty years or so. When I left in 1988, they were starting to build the first 10 stations on the first line, from the Indoor Stadium in the South, to the Railway Station in the North. Now the number of stations on that line has tripled, and they have built another 12 lines; the last one, line 13, goes from the center of Puxi specifically to the EXPO site. The best way to get from point A to point B in this traffic grid-locked city is indeed the subway. Very modern, obviously, clean and comfortable (air conditioned)!
Went straight to the Pudong site, were the national pavilions are. Walked along the elevated pathway that crosses the entire ground of Expo. Best way to appreciate the exterior of the pavilions. Queued for the Canadian one: 3 quarters of an hour to get in; not bad considering that some pavilions more in demand – Japan, China, Germany (and Saudi Arabia!) – require 3 hours+ waiting time that morning. Canada reached its 1 millionth visitor that day – with Finance minister Flaherty to witness! Pavilion focused on city life in Canada – very multimedia; conceived apparently by Le Cirque du Soleil. Hugh screen in semi-spherical shape projecting superimposed shots of life in Canada (I think this is what brother Normand worked on, going over the country the year before). Was done by 2 and went back using the subway all the way to the hotel.
Here is what the Financial Times Shanghai correspondent Patti Waldmeir suggests (Sat edition June 5-6): go by subway (yes!) Go first to corporate sites (GM; China Mobile- China Telecom) on Puxi side: most interesting indoor exhibitions with gadgets and all. Cross to Pudong site by ferry once dusk has come, to see lighted national pavilions and less people queuing. Skip China and US – disappointing pavilions. Italy, GB and Canada worth seeing. Good advice for next time: will be back in October…
A bit of logistics: came on direct flight Toronto – Shanghai on Air Canada (AC87); 14 hours straight! Good flight. Staying at latest (of 3!) Intercontinental Hotels; in Puxi, Zhabei area. Brand new (probably first occupant of the room - had to plug in the ethernet cable in the wall myself!) Great fitness facilities; roomy, well equipped gym and 25 meter pool.
June 2, 2010
