Shanghai prepares for Expo
At the global communion scanned and travel costs low, the expositions are hardly to be discovered worlds who come together every day. Their brilliance, however, does more so far. Except … except when it comes to China, and China from the cosmopolitan Shanghai. Expo 2010, scheduled between May 1 and October 31, is likely to remain in history, like Paris in 1900.
The symbol and the stakes are enormous for Shanghai and for China. Two years after the demonstration Olympic Expo 2010 is a new opportunity to assert the emergence of Chinese power. Shanghai, it is "like a girl who made the toilet" in the words of its mayor, Han Zheng. But the changes are not cosmetic and that this megalopolis of 19 million inhabitants intends to become the leading city of Asia."The city will change its position, change in economic status," said Xu Bo, deputy commissioner general of the exhibition. Industrial town, she wants to become a capital services and a great cultural center. "After the event, will equip buildings built Finally Shanghai site which was lacking for hosting major international events. For example, it will now have a large theater with a capacity of 18 000 people.
As for the Beijing Olympics, in fact, is the "more" and the hunt podium. Estimates vary between 70 and 100 million visitors. Among the distinguished guests, Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to come either opening or closing of the Expo. The number of participants – 192 sovereign countries and 42 international organizations – is also historic. In unison, the park.It spans 5.28 kilometers ?, twice Monaco, which is more in the center of the city and not as often in the periphery. "We chose a greenfield site, and this is the first challenge, said Xu Bo, there were 272 heavily polluting factories, such as foundries or yards and 60 000 people lived in unsanitary conditions . By this choice, we already interpret the theme of urban exposure. "
This theme has been cleverly chosen by Chinese makers. The Urban Challenge, under the slogan "Better City, Better Life," had never been explored by the exhibition. In a country-continent where even the "small town" d?comptent flock in their millions and when the foolish internal migration create urban emergency, the choice is logical."But it is also very concerned and unifying the world, whatever the level of development, regardless of ideology," says Xu Bo. Part of the site will house an 'area of best urban practices, "where cities and regions around the world will present their best ideas. And one third of the surface of the exhibition is devoted to green space.
But the Chinese ambition does not stop there and the case has been well thought through. An international summit will be held at the end of exposure and China wants to push a "Shanghai Declaration", endorsed by the UN. A kind of manifesto of the ideal paving the way for future decades.
Cranes and dust
Seven months before kickoff, the city is as cranes and dust. It is shown here proudly "the largest shipyard in the world, with 8 000 buildings of all sizes.The budget is around 2 billion euros for the site and 1 billion extra for the operation of the exhibition. "But it takes at least ten times more for the city, says Xu Bo, the exhibition will save ten years in terms of urban development."
Several subway lines are built. The capacity of Pudong Airport is more than double to 80 million passengers in 2015 against 30 million today and it deploys motorways and tunnels under the Huangpu River. Aesthetic side, downtown, everything is painted, at least what is visible. The famous Bund is in full moult.
The only thing that give cold sweats to the organizers is to manage the number of visitors, some 400 000 per day on average.There are simple matters of seamless access to the site but also security issues that arise in other terms for the Olympics, confined to sports arenas and lasted only two weeks. There are 100 million people, six long months in the city. Visitors should be 90% Chinese, but there remains the question of what policy to adopt Beijing visas for foreigners, whether it be as restrictive as during the Olympic period in 2008. Last downside, influenza A. The current epidemic among thousands of workers of the site this winter cough could be delays.