World Expo Shanghai organisers today kicked off the first batch of pavilion construction in part of the World Expo Site. The pavilions will serve as models for the construction of other pavilions and infrastructures for World Expo 2010.

Organisers said they hoped that the first batch of the pavilions when built will set the standard for both participants and builders when selecting construction materials and checking their budgets.

"In real construction, we could also find out the problems which could not be foreseen during the planning," said Bai Wenhua, chairman of Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Co Ltd.

The area under construction has almost all the elements involved in building on the site, ranging from pavilions and elevated pedestrian ways to landscaping and toilet installation.

Though the area is now being used as a trial zone for all kinds of site construction, the organisers promised that they have all been carefully planned. Small adjustments are possible, but the whole "model construction" would not be rebuilt.

The 17.7-hectare area for the first series of constructions is located in the east of the Expo’s Pudong section. It is planned as the exhibition area for Asian countries.

Most of the pavilions in the Expo Site will be torn down after the Expo is over. Organisers said that they would choose environmental-friendly and reusable materials.

The first batch of the pavilion construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Peng Lijun, a senior official of the Expo Land Holding Co, said it would also be a fantastic display to convince those are thinking of participating in the event.

All the construction work for the Expo, including the national pavilions being built by other countries, will be completed by December 2009.

scene of the ceremony

scene of the ceremony