News Bites

More green walls

The Shanghai Environment Committee said the ideas and technologies of vertical greening, which can be seen covering 5,000 square meters of wall space on theme pavilions at the Expo, will be applied to buildings in the city. Green walls are covered with several types of vegetation that can adjust to extremes in temperature and humidity. Experts said the plants best suited for green walls need to endure temperatures from -10 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, and must be slow growing.

82-year-old walks to Expo

Guan Hexiang, an 82-year-old resident of Taixing in Jiangsu province, walked six days to get to the Expo Garden. He carried 15 kilograms of luggage on the journey and stayed in simple accommodation while on the road. He called his family twice a day to update them on his experience and to alleviate their worries for his safety. Before this foot trip, Guan had cycled for 18 days from Taixing to Beijing to celebrate the opening of Beijing Olympic Games.

Treat the kids

With International Children's Day approaching, many parents are taking children to visit Expo 2010 Shanghai as treat. Children will enjoy the Expo because of their curiosity and passion for learning about the latest technologies, and seeing differing lifestyles. Children 1.2-meters tall or less are admitted free to the Expo Garden. On June 1, kids can hug panda dolls at the WWF Pavilion and learn more about the most adored animal in the country.

Spain, UK win awards

The Spain and UK pavilions have received awards from the Royal Institute of British Architects. The two pavilions are among the most popular in the Expo Garden. The Spain Pavilion boasts a hand-weaved wicker cover supported by steel framework inside. The UK pavilion, nicknamed the "Seed Cathedral", conveys a theme of building on the past, shaping our future.

Gold bars dazzle

Weighty souvenir gold bars are available in the Expo Garden. The gold bar set consists of three bars weighting 33.33 kilograms each. One set costs 35.8 million yuan ($5.24 million). The gold bars are by far the heaviest and most expensive gold Expo souvenirs. The company selling the gold bars said the set is highly collectible and a number of people intend to buy the souvenir.

Art for charity

A series of outstanding water-ink paintings and calligraphy works from contemporary Chinese artists is on an international fund-raising exhibition tour. Sales of the artworks will help poor children from China and abroad visit the Expo. Exhibited artists include Fang Jianchen and Xu Zhenghong. The exhibition made its first stop in Singapore in April and will move on to other Asian countries.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/28/2010 page36)