Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Tomorrow is International Museum Day, and to celebrate 105 museums across the city have
dropped admission fees for three days starting this morning. Reporter Zhang Jun visited one
of the free museums today and tells us more.
Despite being a work day, this Shanghai Expo commemoration exhibition at the former Expo
site in Puxi was packed with young visitors this morning. Besides this huge model of the
expo site, the exhibition includes highlights from each zone such as the giant Baby Miguelin
from the Spanish Pavilion and a signature sculpture from the Thailand Pavilion. Some
visitors said they enjoyed the exhibition as much as the real Expo.
"My parents brought me to the Shanghai Expo twice but this time I felt much happier since
I am with my friends and classmates," said Ding Yutang.
"I have been to the Shanghai Expo 13 times. But because of the long lines, I haven't collected
all of the pavillions' stamps. I love stamps and want to get as many as possible here,"
said He Pinlin.
Organizers say there are 3,000 exhibits on display.
"We were aware that because of the long queues and large crowds during the Expo, many visitors
failed to see all the exhibits. Now through the International Museum Day event, we hope
locals can see the Expo highlights here," said Jiang Sha.
Organizers say they are expecting rain, so the number of people visiting the exhibition
tomorrow won't match the number who stopped by Expo pavillions in 2010. But they are sure
the exhibition will offer each visitor a unique reminder of the Shanghai Expo.
And to help visitors, a map of the Expo exhibition and all of the museums that are dropping fees
for the weekend has been published in both Chinese and English. The map can be downloaded
from a government website. Besides dropping admission fees, about 30 museums will extend
their opening hours over the weekend. The free-museum event is also a part of the city's
first Citizens Art Festival this year.