Downtown Shanghai Thrilled by Expo

The curtain was finally raised on the Shanghai World Expo last night. The city was packed with thrilled residents and visitors. How did they celebrate the exciting expo opening? What do they expect to see and do during the six-month global fair? Let's take a closer look with Yingying.

Reporter:

Thousands of enthusiastic visitors from home and abroad as well as local citizens gathered at Nanjing Road, Shanghai's main shopping street. They were watching the live broadcast of the Shanghai Expo's opening ceremony in front of a large LED screen.

Most of them expressed an ardent wish to visit the Expo 2010.

"I hope to experience the different cultures of China and other countries."

"Surely I will go. The expo is the pride of Shanghai and the whole nation."

"To host a world expo is a dream we've been dreaming for hundreds of years. I will definitely go there."

It is the first time for Chinese people to enjoy a world expo at home. Most of them showed great interest in visiting the pavilions of all participating countries. Their expectations mainly focus on experiencing different cultures and gaining knowledge about different countries.

Wang Cong, a student of Fudan University in Shanghai also associates the expo with themes relating to technology and Innovation.

"I hope to see unique things of different countries and their most advanced technologies, because high technology is one of the important features the expo is showcasing."

With plenty of activities and pavilions in a variety of forms, the Shanghai Expo is expected to attract over 70 million visitors, of which 3.5 million will be from abroad. For those foreign visitors, what do they hope to see during the expo? Zachary Franklin is from the United State.

"My focus is everything, its architecture, its first day opening, its every event, every performance."

Will Wiriawam is from Indonesia, he says he will visit his own country's pavilion.

"Each country is displaying their best in one place, and it's such a big event. And our country has a pavilion too. It's pavilion of Indonesia. You should come and check it out!"

Through eight years of preparation, people in Shanghai have witnessed great changes in their city. They are now demonstrating their sincere welcome to friends from all over the world.

For CRI, I'm Yingying.