From a pedestrian overpass on a sweltering May day in Shanghai during Expo 2010, one looked toward the "purple silkworm island" of the Japan Pavilion and saw long lines everywhere. Repeatedly, announcements reminded visitors: "Those lining up now will have to wait eight hours for their turn!"
It was a huge testing ground for cultivating the virtues of patience and civility. With countries from around the world having racked their national brains for ways to demonstrate their unique qualities and leave a deep impression on visitors, every pavilion was like an unopened Pandora's Box. From the concept of the seed that was integral to the entire British pavilion, to the giant baby in the Spanish pavilion, there was a lot of creativity on display.
Outside the pavilions, plastic barriers maintained order by marking the path of lines. The pavilions kindly provided special green lanes for the use of the elderly and the handicapped, so that they wouldn't have to wait. Unfortunately, some visitors flouted the conventions of civilization, jumping barriers or pretending to be disabled. These provided Expo 2010 with some additional weird spectacles.When visiting any national pavilion, children were full of curiosity about the new sights and experiences inside. From the hands-on interactive features, to the exhibits making use of 3D images, children had a better feel for these new technologies than their parents.
Leisurely surveying this fantastical city, wherein you could take in the West and the East at one glance, where past, present and future were rolled together, I couldn't help but wonder: With their opportunities for witnessing life and experiencing the world, once these children grow up, how boundless and lively will their imaginations be?
Upon leaving the pavilions of Expo 2010, the world outside remained the same old rat race. The competitive fire of an individual is like what drives one nation to compete against others. But what never changes is a child's hopeful outlook on the future.
This was Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The new age started here!
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