layout of the tower

layout of the tower

Shanghai will turn a chimney at city's century old power plant into an observation tower as an entertaining project in World Expo 2010 site.

The 165-meter chimney, built in 1985, at the Puxi side of the Expo site along the Huangpu River in the Nanshi Power Plant, will be transformed into a 201-meter-tall“Expo Harmony Tower."

The 110-year old Nanshi Power Plant, closed in September last year, is the oldest power plant in China. It has witnessed the development of city's industrialization.

Tracks and cars similar to a roller coaster will wrap around the tower and take people to the top for a view of the 5.28 square-kilometer Expo site and the city's modern skyline.

Fifty cars will be able to circle around the 15.6-meter-diameter tower, at the same time. Each car can hold six persons.

Its running speed is about the speed of escalators and it takes 28 minutes to go up and down one time. The top of the tower will be the highest point in the Expo site.

The old workshops of the power plant, which is below the chimney, will also be revamped into one of the five theme pavilions putting up a show in "Exploration of Future Cities."

The workshops, with a floor area of 9,150 square meters, are part of the exhibition of "Urban Best Practices Area" displaying innovative ideas to make city life better.

The former high-pollution plant will become a venue practicing various environmental protection technologies, such as using electricity generated by tide, wind and solar energy, the organizers said.

A bridge which was used to transfer coal to the plant will be revamped into a sightseeing road extending to waterfront of Huangpu River.

"The protection of the historical building is a very important topic during the Expo preparation," said Bai Wenhua, chairman of Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Co Ltd.

"The renovation will be the reborn of the old factory, which gives demonstration of combining city's civilization with advanced technology," Bai added.

The construction of the tower will be completed in January, 2010 and the tower will be put into operation before April. It will be kept after the Expo closes.

About 380,000 square meters of old constructions in the Expo Site will be preserved, of which 250,000 square meters are in old factories, the biggest-ever protection project in the Expo history.

Expo organizers plan to turn most of the workshops and warehouses into exhibition halls or public activity centers. After the Expo, the venues will be become museums to showcase both the history and the future of manufacturing.

scene of the signing ceremony

scene of the signing ceremony

Wang Jigang, mayor of Zhuji, Zhejiang Province

Bai Wenhua, chairman of Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Co Ltd