Expo to feature pavilion for the disabled
The Shanghai World Expo Committee has recently unveiled plans to create the first-ever pavilion for the disabled, complete with an emblem and mascot. The 1,200 square-meter "Life Sunshine" pavilion was designed with the hope of "shining the light of care on each and every disabled," and will include four different parts: a Prelude section, Life section, Sunshine section and Love section. Each will lead visitors through a sensory journey, including pitch-black rooms with sculptures and materials meant for visitors to touch, as well as short videos highlighting the accomplishments of famous disabled athletes, scientists and other notables. According to officials, some 60 disabled people are expected to work as guides in the pavilion during the Expo.
Taiwan protests inclusion in "China Pavilion"
Taiwan is expected to file a formal complaint with the organizer of the Expo for including a Taiwan section in the "China Pavilion." Protestors from Taiwan claim that this move poses a deliberate challenge to Taiwan’s sovereignty. According to the director of the Taiwan Trade Center in Shanghai, the arrangement is in direct violation of a contract between the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) and the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, which states that the Taiwan Pavilion will be located in an area of Zone A designated for the national pavilions of Asian countries.
Night markets to be legalized for Expo
The Shanghai Commission of Commerce will set up local night markets during the World Expo to improve the city’s nightlife and solve traffic problems caused by illegal vendors. The commission plans to establish 50 featured streets for commerce, entertainment and leisure before the Expo, of which several would be designated night markets. Zhang Xinsheng, assistant director of the commission, said, "Night markets [will] enrich the city’s nightlife by providing entertainment, leisure, shopping and food." The first pilot streets include South Yunnan Road, Yuyuan Tourist Mart and Wujiang Road. At present Shanghai has no legal night markets., but unofficial markets flourish nevertheless.
Expo to create pre-paid shopping cards
The organizers of the Shanghai World Expo are trying to make shopping easier for foreign tourists. One proposal suggests developing a pre-paid card that will enable tourists to shop without the worry of converting money or incurring foreign bank taxes. The tourism board of China also plans to issue a Shanghai Tour Card, a pre-paid card that visitors will be able to load money onto before purchasing event tickets.
