See the cities of tomorrow at Shanghai World Expo

MANILA, Philippines - Global citizens, businessmen, artists and inventors continue to converge in China’s “next great world city” as it hosts the biggest and most lavish world’s fair in history, the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

Reportedly a lot more expensive than the Beijing Olympics, this fair is where people can get a first look at all the technological and economical developments that the future will bring.

Being held until Oct. 31 along the Huangpu River, the event brings the best of 190 countries, including the Philippines, in one location and is expected to attract over 70 million visitors.

The World Expo occupies a sprawling 5.28 kilometers of land on both sides of the majestic river, and is divided into five zones. Travelers can easily take the bus, train, and water transportation to get to the site.

Take Shanghai’s famous magnetic-levitation train, with its subway lines 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 leading straight to the exhibition garden of the Expo, and the Subway Line 13, which connects the eastern and western areas of the venue.

By bus, there are three lines to choose from, depending on which one is nearest or most convenient. By water, there are cross-river ferries that have six terminals within the Expo site.

Once inside the venue, there are buses that can take visitors from one zone to the other, free of charge for Expo ticket holders.

Visitors of the Shanghai World Expo can expect world-class displays of glo-bal tourist attractions, innovative products and technology as well as unique cultural presentations.

They may even bump into a world leader or two as the event, held every few years, is also a well-known showcase for progressive ideas from all parts of the world.

Among the highlights of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 are the interesting interpretations of each nation of the theme “Better City, Better Life.” Japan’s pavilion, for instance, illustrates a city with zero-emission greenhouse gases, complete with environment-friendly vehicles and roofs that absorb carbon dioxide. It also recently celebrated Nara Week as a commemoration of Japan’s former capital city that is heavily inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

Making a record of its own, Russia’s child-oriented pavilion features a unique and astounding fairyland to show that “the best city is that in which children are happy.” It has a high-tech holographic representation of children so that visitors can have a better picture of the realistic fairyland.

Those who drop by the pavilion can also learn about nuclear energy and nanotechnology, among Russia’s other achievements. With already three million visitors listed, it is fast becoming a highlight in the Expo.

From the host country, China’s Crown of the East pavilion pulled out all the stops to catch the fancy of 50,000 visitors daily. Aside from its 3D presentation of how China has bloomed into the global country that it is today, visitors can take home one thing from their visit: that China is a rising player in the global market, and nations should watch out for it.

Fortunately for those who wish to experience the grandeur of this year’s World’s Fair, Cebu Pacific now flies daily to Shanghai using its first-rate fleet of Airbus A320s.

Offering the lowest year-round “Go Lite” fare, Asia’s third largest low-cost carrier enables every Juan to fly to Shanghai for an affordable P3,999.

The airline also periodically offers discounted rates for its 16 international routes, making travel for once-in-a-lifetime events such as the Shanghai World Expo even more affordable.

To book tickets, just log on to www.cebupacificair.com and start planning that budget-friendly Shanghai tour today.