Shanghai all set for Expo opening

Pre-opening test days saw a third of the almost 200 national pavilions opened for visitors, with day one on April 20 attracting 200,000 visitors.

Visitors to the Expo's trial opening days reported long queues for key attractions, restaurants and toilets at the Expo site.

The 2010 World Expo, which runs from May 1 to October 31, is targeting a maximum of 380,000 visitors on weekdays and up to 600,000 on weekends.

Visitors to Shanghai this weekend may experience some traffic restrictions, especially during what organisers promise will be "a spectacular opening ceremony" on Friday night.

The Lupu Bridge, which connects Pudong Airport with the city, will be closed from midnight on April 30 to 04.00 on May 1. Temporary traffic restrictions will also be in place on routes leading to and from the Expo site between 16.00 and midnight on April 30. For metro users, Shanghai has launched a new one-day travel card, costing RMB20 (US$2.93), offering unlimited metro travel for 24 hours.

(Sources: Amy Fabris-Shi, Shanghai, TTG Asia)