Lasting from May 1st to Oct 31st 2010, the Shanghai World Expo will be the biggest event in its history, with 192 countries and 50 International organizations having confirmed participation. Organizers expect more than 70 million visitors to visit the Expo over the course of six months, whose theme is ‘Better City, Better Life.’
The Expo, which will cover over 5 square kilometers, is the third largest event in the world in terms of economic and cultural impact, after the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. Expos have been organized for more than 150 years — longer than both the (modern) Olympic Games and the World Cup. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851 under the title “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations”.
A total of 500 Expo Homes have been selected from among ordinary families in Shanghai for tourists during the Expo. “Expo Homes” is a program to provide cultural exchange, catering, lodging, and information services in local houses and communities. Relevant requirements and standards for the home space, living facilities and cleanliness ensure the quality of “Expo Homes.”
