12 Must-See Pavilions
How to see the most of pavilions among the 260 pavilions at the 5.28 square kilometers site? One of the crucial solutions is to make an extensive preparation like the reference of the expo travelogues(please click for our Expo one-day or three day trip solution to get inspired), expo maps, routes, shape your own expo itinerary and narrow down to your priority pavilions. You may want to take your pick among the following 12 unique pavilions aside from visiting the China Pavilion.
The Most Beautiful–Meteo World Pavilion
- Theme: For Safety and Interest
- Location: Zone B
- National Pavilion Day: May 9
The pavilion, funded by the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization, is constructed with a white and transparent membrane structure and resembles a giant white cloud. When the spray is switched on, mist will spread out and the Meteo World Pavilion looks like a genuine, floating cloud. A visit to it feels like walking in the clouds.
Tip: When the sun elevation angle is less than 42 degrees, you might see a rainbow inside.
The Most Expensive–Saudi Arabian Pavilion
- Theme: Vitality of Life
- Location: Zone A
- National Pavilion Day: Sep. 8
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion, constructed on RMB 1.3 billion investment, is suspended in the air resembling a "moon boat" loaded with dreams and friendship. Coconut palms and dates are planted at the top to recreate a desert-style paradise.
The Most Fantastic–Poland Pavilion
- Theme: Smiling Poland
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: May 22
The pavilion is abstract and patterns like a traditional paper cut-out. The play of scattered sun rays will present visitors an interesting visual experience. The interior walls also serve as a video screen to showcase the typical Polish city life. At night, when the lit up, the entire hall will emerge as coming out of an illusion.
The Most Romantic–French Pavilion
- Theme: The Sensual City
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: June 21
The pavilion is embraced by a thin huge wire mesh suspended on a reflecting pool making it seem like a floating white palace. Inside, visitor can see, hear, smell the French sensibility and charm in art masterpieces, the courtyard design, the perfume and old movie clips, etc.
The Most Creative–British Pavilion
- Theme: Building on the Past, Shaping Our Future
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: Sep. 8
The six-storey UK Pavilion--"A Pavilion of Ideas" is shaped like a huge "light box" with thousands of spines tipped with tiny colored lights that can sense the wind and display various images. The night will be its light show moment.
The largest collection of wild plant seeds from Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, is displayed inside the pavilion. Put inside 60,000 spines and well-protected, most of the seeds can still grow after the expo session. The seeds sketch the magnificent picture of life potential and the sustainability.
The Happiest–Dutch Pavilion
- Theme: Happy Street
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: May 18
The "Happy Street"--400-meter pedestrian street curves in a figure of eight. 26 small houses dotted along the suspended-roller-coaster street. Rather than entering the pavilion through the main gate as other pavilions, you can randomly go in at all sides. When lit up at night, the "Happy Street" is like an amusement park in a kid's dream.
Japanese Pavilion
- Theme: Harmony Between Human Heart and Technology
- Location: Zone A
- National Pavilion Day: June 12
In Japan Pavilion, sophisticated energy-saving technologies like solar energy collection batteries and a double-layer membrane that can transform sunshine to the light as well as the three holes and three horns that serve as the rain recycler and air circulation promoter are showcased in this breathing organism.
The exhibited robot keeper for the elderly or the musical performance depicting a dream of a harmonious future are showed to accord with the theme of the pavilion.
UAE Pavilion
- Theme: Vitality of Life (Movement of the Sand Dunes)
- Location: Zone A
- National Pavilion Day: Sep. 27th
The UAE Pavilion looks like a red rolling sand dune. The rose gold stainless steel plate surface shows changes in color. So whenever the wind blows, visitors can feel the movement of the "sand dunes".
Austria Pavilion
- Theme: Austria–Feel the Harmony
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: May 21
The structure of Austria Pavilion takes visitors on a spectacular journey through snow-capped mountains, forests, flowing rivers and urban landscapes. The pavilion displays Austria's natural scenery and landmark buildings such as Vienna City Hall under the theme "Feel the Harmony."
One highlight of the pavilion is that it features Mozart, Princess Sissi (a famous figure among Chinese due to a 1955 film), and Xiang Sun (A Chinese player who played in the Vienna club) that will accompany you through the pavilion trip.
Italian Pavilion
- Theme: City of Man
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: Jun. 2nd
Inspired by a Shanghai's traditional game "Pick-Up-Sticks", Italy pavilion is built by assembling the 20 irregular functional modules which represent the 20 major regions of Italy. The whole exhibition is like a miniature Italian city full of elements of traditional Italian cities like the alleys, courtyards, paths, squares, etc.
Indian Pavilion
- Theme: Cities of Harmony
- Location: Zone A
- National Pavilion Day: Aug. 18
Indian still radiates its exotics religious flavor in its pavilion consisting of the distinctive vermilion arch gate, a dome structure and the like.
The mysterious India is unveiled in front of you via an array of films, shows, specialties and cuisines, whispering you an India backed with time-honored civilization, coexisting religions, advancing city life, development of modern and traditional technology.
Spain Pavilion
- Theme: From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children
- Location: Zone C
- National Pavilion Day: Aug. 30
Spain Pavilion takes the shape of a hand-weaved wicker basket strengthened with the steel structure and its façade is decorated to be Chinese calligraphy. Covered by the water-proof material, wickers of different colors are weaved out in different patterns and immerse the pavilion in the natural light at a comfortable temperature.