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Recent Visitors
Romania takes a slice out of the big apple for 2010 event
2009. 13 August
by Yang Jian
(shanghaidaily.com)
The old proverb "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is the philosophy behind the Romania Pavilion for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai - a big green apple and a slice of apple lying on the ground.
The 2,000-square-meter "apple pavilion" made of glass might be the largest of its kind that Expo visitors have ever seen, reminding them of Newton's discovery of gravity.
However, the Romanian Expo team have attached other meanings to the design.
The apple represents a healthy lifestyle as well as knowledge, freshness, temptation and eternity. It reminds people to take care of the city they are living in, says Ferdinand Nagy, commissioner of the World Exhibition of Romania.
Lights will illuminate the apple from inside.
It will be green under sunshine, and turn to red, yellow and blue at night.
Nagy says Romania is trying to highlight a city's historical and cultural heritage in order to understand, develop and translate this wisdom into a better quality of life for contemporary urban Romanian citizens.
The exhibition will be themed on "Greenopolis."
"Greenopolis is a term with universal meaning, represented by the apple, which means health, knowledge and freshness," he says.
Visitors will first enter the complete apple via an access that is like a small bite.
The pavilion will showcase the cultures of the country, while the slice will house the main exhibition area.
The apple will have five levels inside. Three stories will be open to visitors. The first and highest levels are for technical use.
Visitors will be welcomed by Romanian folk dances on a stage when entering the pavilion.
Dancers will dress in traditional costumes of the country - a shirt or chemise for both men and women, which is made from hemp, linen or wool.
After viewing the dances, visitors will be invited to a restaurant to taste a typical Romanian meal which will include soups made with meat, vegetables, tripe or fish, all of which are flavored with lemon juice, sauerkraut juice or vinegar. Romanian wine will also be served.
Romanian food is not yet popular in China, but Chinese food is a favorite with Romanians. Nagy says he wants to promote the country's food in China via the 2010 event.
On the next floor, some Romanian films, both old and new, will be shown. Romanian films were popular in China in the 1970s and visitors will have the chance to see "Mihai Viteazul" (1970) and "Stefan cel Mare" (1974), classic Romanian movies that moved many Chinese people when they were first released.
Business talks and seminars dedicated to the development of economic, scientific and tour exchanges with other nations will be held on the fourth floor.
In the pavilion's slice of apple, the country will showcase the history and sceneries of its cities, especially the capital, Bucharest.
Romania will try to highlight a city's historical and cultural heritage in order to understand, develop and translate this wisdom into a better quality of life for contemporary urban Romanian citizens, the commissioner says.
He says visitors will be able to gain access to the top of the building where a "secret and very special activity" will be held.
The pavilion has a budget of 2.5 million euros (US$3.5 million) and aims to attract 7 million visitors, accounting for 10 percent of the total visitors to the event.
The Romanian Expo team hope that the apple pavilion will become the Romanian Consulate in Shanghai after the event is over, Nagy adds.
Construction began on the pavilion on Monday. Greenopolis Highlight: The Romania Pavilion is a big green apple and a slice of apple lying on the ground.Theme: Greenopolis What to see?
The Romania Pavilion is a big green apple and a slice of apple lying on the ground. The 2,000-square-meter "apple pavilion" made of glass might be the largest of its kind that Expo visitors have ever seen.