HANGZHOU will take full advantage of World Expo 2010 Shanghai to develop its tourism, exhibition and transport industries, said Party Secretary Wang Guoping.

Wang outlined Hangzhou's plans in a recent press conference.

Thanks to its superb scenery, Hangzhou will be a prime choice for an expected 24.5 million tourists after they visit the six-month Expo opening next May 1 in Shanghai. Around 8 million of them are expected to visit the neighboring city.

Hangzhou will also take part in the Shanghai Expo's Urban Best Practices Area where it will demonstrate its water treatment in the project "Harnessing Five Waters."

Hangzhou began preparing for the Shanghai Expo in 2002 when the city received an inspection team from the Bureau of International Exhibition weighing China's bid for the event.

In 2006, it became the first Chinese city that put forward a three-year Expo plan. In 2007 in the city center it set up the first countdown clock outside Shanghai.

In 2008 the city geared up as the prime sub-site of Shanghai Expo.

The short trip between Shanghai and Hangzhou will become even shorter with a new high-speed rail link completed before the Expo. It will reduce travel time to 38 minutes.

"It is just like Shanghai will have the West Lake, and Hangzhou will have the Huangpu River," added Wang Guoping. Excerpts from the Hangzhou Party Secretary's remarks Q: Shanghai Expo is expected to be the new engine that drives the economy in the Yangtze River Delta or even the entire country.

This year, the Hangzhou West Lake Expo, the first modern expo in China, will celebrate its 80th anniversary. What's your expectation for the West Lake Expo and Shanghai Expo in terms of promoting the economy and consumption in Hangzhou?

A: Hangzhou is an ideal place for exhibitions and has witnessed fast growth in the exhibition industry these years. The West Lake Expo, first hosted in 1929, was resumed in 2002 and was hosted annually ever since.

The World Expo is also an exhibition, but one on a higher level, displaying the culture, economy and science and technology of different countries. Both exhibitions share one thing in common: They are platforms to establish a city's image and drive its economy.

World Expo 2010 is a good opportunity for Hangzhou to practice.

Shanghai will spare no efforts to host a "successful, splendid and unforgettable" Expo and become the exhibition center in Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, Hangzhou will focus on domestic exhibitions and gradually emerge as a city for exhibitions with domestic and international markets.



Q: According to a survey carried out in 31 provincial cities, 80 percent of interviewees expressed their willingness to take trips after visiting the Shanghai Expo. And 75 percent of those people would choose Shanghai and Jiangsu or Zhejiang Province. How many people will Hangzhou receive during the Expo? Is the city fully prepared?

A: It is estimated that Shanghai Expo will attract 70-75 million tourists. Among them, 52 million are foreign visitors, a record in Expo history. Another 35 percent, or 24.5 million people, will visit neighboring areas, and Hangzhou is likely to be a prime choice. Therefore, we expect to receive over 8 million tourists during the six-month Expo period.

With the number of star-level hotels ranking the third nationally, the domestic tourists received annually the seventh and the foreign tourists received the fifth, Hangzhou definitely can offer sufficient accommodation, or even ease Shanghai's burden during the Expo.

And the city is expected to become the temporary residence, departure place and hub in the Yangtze River Delta for Expo tourists. They can realize the proposition: "Stay in Hangzhou, visit the Expo and travel in the Yangtze River Delta."



Q: Talking about tourism in Hangzhou, scenic spots related to water, namely the West Lake, Xixi Wetlands and the Grand Canal, will spring first to mind. What kind of city image will Hangzhou present to the whole world by displaying the project "Harnessing Five Waters" in the Expo's Urban Best Practices Area?

A: Water is the root and soul of Hangzhou. Comprehensive measures have been taken to protect and treat the water systems in West Lake, Xixi Wetlands, canals, Qiantang River and other waterways, creating a water-friendly livable city with clear water, green banks and beautiful sceneries.

With the project "Harnessing Five Waters," Hangzhou is no longer a city with single West Lake culture, but a unique "city of water" boasting various waterways.

By the display of how human efforts and intelligence relieve ecological crisis, the design interprets the ancient idea between heaven, earth and man, and convey Hangzhou's idea of water treatment by harnessing West Lake, the Qiantang River, canals, the Xixi Wetlands and the East China Sea.



Q: Hangzhou not only takes an active part in various activities of the Expo, but also plans to introduce some of the pavilions. What benefits and opportunities will Shanghai Expo bring to Hangzhou? And how will Hangzhou establish its competitiveness and new advantage with the help of the World Expo?

A: Hangzhou and Shanghai share similar culture and related economies. With close relationship between people and a short distance in geography, we have established a long history of communication and cooperation.

Shanghai's fast development and the Expo will inject powerful energy into Hangzhou. By connecting to Shanghai, Hangzhou will be further involved in the Expo, the Yangtze River Delta and gradually become an international city.

The World Expo will forcefully drive tourism, business and trade, hotel and accommodation, culture and financial services in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta as a whole, creating numerous opportunities for Hangzhou and its enterprises. Therefore, our connection to Shanghai will be carried out in various social sections.



Q: The Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed railway is under construction and will reduce the travel time to only 38 minutes. Please explain more about the current cooperation and progress of the 40-minute life circle you once described.

A: Construction of the Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed railway began in February this year. It will shorten the travel time to 38 minutes - the time needed to traveling from western Hangzhou to the eastern part, making the pendulum-like lifestyle of "working in Shanghai, residing in Hangzhou" a reality.

Our cooperation with Shanghai will be enhanced. We will promote integration in transport, tourism, medical treatment, social security, education, postal service, information, human resources and markets. We will build a 40-minute life, working and economic circle. About Hangzhou

Located in the Yangtze River Delta, 180 kilometers southwest of Shanghai, Hangzhou is the center of economy, culture and science and education in Zhejiang Province. With its 16,600-square-kilometer metropolitan area, Hangzhou boasts a population of 6,780,000.

As one of the seven ancient capitals in China, Hangzhou is renowned for its historic relics and beautiful scenery. By developing new routes and scenic spots and hosting various exhibitions, the city has committed itself to create the "Oriental Leisure Capital."

In terms of the aggregate economic volume, Hangzhou ranks the second in provincial capitals and the eighth among large and medium-sized cities. In 2008, its GDP mounted to 478 billion yuan (US$70 billion), an 11-percent increase.