DECLARED AN astounding success by the international Expo body, the lights went out on the Shanghai World Expo yesterday after introducing a record 73 million visitors to a panoply of cultures and technologies intended to illustrate ideas for urban sustainability.
The scale of the Expo was awe-inspiring, attracting 246 participating countries and international organisations.
Both figures are records in the history of world fairs or expos, the first of which was held in London in 1851. China spent 28.6 billion yuan (€3 billion) on the event and many billions more on improving subways, roads, tunnels, airports and other public facilities.
Premier Wen Jiabao, who was made numerous calls for reform in recent months, told a forum on the sidelines of the event that the success of the Expo “has boosted China’s confidence and resolve to pursue reform and opening up”.
“The Expo has brought together the Chinese people wishing to learn more about the world and foreign friends wishing to know more about China,” said Mr Wen.
All but a handful of the more than 200 structures built for the Expo will now be dismantled. Some pavilions will be moved elsewhere to serve as museums or landmarks.
Among the highlights of the six-month event, which took place on an enormous site spread over 5.28sq km, was the exhibition of a bronze chariot and horse sculpture from China’s Warring States period, the statue of Athena from Greece and various French Impressionist masterpieces.
In all there were more than 20,000 cultural events. President Mary McAleese came to visit, as did various Ministers over the six months, although a visit by Taoiseach Brian Cowen failed to materialise for scheduling reasons.
The Irish pavilion, designed and built by the Office of Public Works, was very popular and well attended, and was voted one of the top five pavilions.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon said the Expo had been a “remarkable, even historic event”. He looked forward to working closely with China on the sustainable development agenda.
There is a certain sense now in China of “what next?” The Expo managed to stave off the full national hangover in China after the Olympic Games. Now there is a gap in the calendar, although the Asian Games in Guangzhou this month will do something to mitigate the comedown.