Expo Gala to Launch Shanghai World Expo 2010
The World’s Fair road show is coming to New Zealand next month while New Zealand Ambassador to China, Carl Worker, visited the site in Shanghai this week to emphasize the importance of the New Zealand Pavilion. The Expo Gala is the promotional launch to attract New Zealanders to the Shanghai World Expo 2010 that will be held at Sky City on 4 December with government officials, civic leaders, travel agents and the diplomatic corps in attendance. World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is a sanctioned world’s fair that is considerably larger than Expo 88 in Brisbane. The Gala is timely as the Expo was just named in the Top 10 of Lonely Planet's ‘Best in Travel 2010’ for the upcoming year.
The hosting of this festival of nations is the realisation of a national dream more than a century ago, but could only be realised after the founding of the New China followed by 30 years of rapid progress as the nation goes all out for the event's preparations following the success of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
The Media Conference commences at 6:00pm. The Eiffel Tower is the legacy of the 1889 Fair held in Paris and the Ambassador from France, His Excellency Mr Michel Legras, will introduce the French Pavilion. It has been built as a “white palace” floating above water, a theme of “Romance” with weddings booked in the mini Versailles Gardens. The Musée d’Orsay will exhibit masterpieces during the Expo, which have never been exhibited simultaneously outside France. Dunedin is Shanghai’s Sister City and Peter Chin, Mayor of Dunedin will also speak about his recent visit after meeting with New Zealand Consul-General and Shanghai officials. The participating countries are pulling out all the stops; Copenhagen will bring out one of their major tourist attractions, the iconic Little Mermaid statue, for the duration.
Expo Gala commences at 6:30pm with Frankie Stevens as MC Gala based on his experience as the Events Coordinator for New Zealand’s Millennium festivities, along with former Miss Chinese New Zealand Amanda Xing. Mike Pattison, Project Director of the New Zealand Pavilion will be Guest Speaker at the Gala.
There will be more than 20,000 cultural and artistic performances during the 184-day Expo at more than 30 venues in the village. The Shaolin and Wudang temples are sending martial arts monks to perform featuring some skills that have never been performed publicly; the magic-like martial arts that can destroy wood and stone by fists and palm that are seen in many Hong Kong kung fu movies with audience participation. The Siu Lum Gar Kung Fu Group will perform a captivating routine at the Gala.
Expo Gala on Friday 4 December at Sky City Convention Centre, Level 5 with Media Conference at 6:00pm followed by the Banquet and show. Prizes include Air New Zealand tickets to China.
China Travel Service (NZ) Ltd. is the organiser of the Gala as the exclusive New Zealand Official Ticket Agent for Shanghai World Expo 2010 that is expected to draw 70 million visitors during the 1 May to 31 October 2010 period making it one of the largest expos ever held. Expo packages prices are from NZ$1,750 for 4 days with Air NZ flights and deluxe hotel. China Travel Service (N.Z.) Limited is China’s one-stop China travel shop as the Official Representative in New Zealand of the China National Tourism Office. CTS is one of the 21 overseas branches of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited started in 1928.
For more information please contact:
Barbara Boyce, China Travel Service (NZ) Ltd., phone 09 375 1711 or 021 555 074
Email: bdm@chinatravel.co.nz and further details online at http://www.chinatravel.co.nz or http://en.expo2010.cn/index.htm.