Shanghai Expo spirit never loses its magic
Print Edition
WORLD Expo Shanghai 2010 has long ended, but the memories linger on for many people who see it as a high point in their lives.
In Minhang’s Qibao Town, Expo enthusiast Wang Changyuan recently held a personal exhibition to display more than 100 souvenirs he collected after visiting Expo 39 times.
“This exhibition displays only a small part of my collection,” said Wang. “I chose mementos that have significant meaning for me as a way of sharing my experiences and stories about Expo with others.”
The six-month world fair drew a record attendance of 73 million people, with 246 countries and international organizations participating. It was considered a crowning success for a city that seeks to make its mark on the world.
One of Wang’s proudest possessions is a holder containing more than 300 entry tickets to Expo. Apart from his own tickets, Wang also solicited others from people who had attended.
“Some of the tickets were really hard to get,” he said. “For example, when it was raining, there were not many tickets sold at the gate, and it was difficult to find people who bought the tickets.”
Record of 184 days of Expo
In a notebook, Wang recorded visitor numbers for each of the 184 days of the event. He also collected media reports, posters, maps, program lists, pamphlets and invitations related to Expo.
“When I look at them, I am always transported back to that summer seven years ago,” he said. “How time has flown!”
Wang especially loves to talk about Expo stamps. During the event, many people collected commemorative stamps issued by the various national pavilions. Among the most eager stamp collectors was Wang.
He proudly displays a Little Mermaid stamp, issued at the Danish Pavilion on August 23, the birthday of fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen. Wang said he obtained the stamp after rushing to the Expo site after work.
“There were so many people lined up to get a Little Mermaid stamp,” he recalled. “I waited for more than two hours to get one on a postcard.”
After that, he hurried to the Odense Pavilion of Denmark to collect another limited edition Hans Christian Andersen memorial stamp. He stuck that onto the postcard with the Little Mermaid stamp and mailed it at the Expo post office before it closed. With that, he created a full-set Little Mermaid postcard.
Other cherished souvenirs in his collection are painted postcards obtained at the Taipei Pavilion. On October 11, 2010, an artist at the pavilion painted for visitors as part of a promotion for the Garden Expo about to begin in Taiwan. Wang managed to secure three of the flower-themed postcards.
“I was always fully prepared if I wanted to collect something special,” he said. “Expo events were always crowded, and it was usually the ‘early birds who caught the worms.’ I could never afford to be lazy.”
Expo ended but Wang’s passion didn’t wane. He managed to find other people who shared his passion for the event.
When he heard that the Shanghai World Expo Museum was going to open in May, Wang immediately registered as a volunteer. In that capacity, he shares stories and personal experiences with visitors to the museum.
“My souvenir collection may not have much economic value, but it is rich in culture and contemporary history,” he said. “I’m only so happy as to share it with anyone who is interested.”
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