Calls for Expo Park to open earlier

• Source: Global Times
• [10:53 May 26 2010]
• Comments

Visitors make the most of the cooling effect of the water vapor system at the MeteoWorld Pavilion Tuesday, as the temperature hit 34 C. Photo: CFP

By Duan Wuning

With temperatures hitting a new high and visitors to the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai exceeding 300,000 per day since last Friday, people are asking if authorities can open the Expo park earlier each day.

Local visitor Yang Shu told the Global Times that she arrived at the security checkpoint at Gate 6, one of the two gates closest to the China Pavilion, at about 8 am Tuesday, only to see many people already waiting outside.

"It was too hot, and there were too many people. Some had to sit on the ground because it's a long time to wait," said Yang. "Many arrived as early as 7 am to queue for reservation tickets for the China Pavilion, so they had to wait for two hours."

Pan Shunying, 54, arrived at 7:15 am at Gate 2 on the Puxi side of the Expo Park Tuesday, hoping to gather 15 stamps from Urban Best Practices Area pavilions, which she could then trade for a reservation ticket to the China Pavilion. "There's no shade outside Gate 2," she said. "As the security guards and volunteers are already on hand around 8 am, why can't they let us in a bit earlier?"

An official with the Expo Coordination Bureau (ECB), who refused to reveal his name, told the Global Times Tuesday that there are no plans to adjust the opening time of the park.

"It's not as easy as it appears," the official said. "The operation of the pavil-ions and traffic would all be affected. If we simply allow visitors in earlier but all the pavilions remain closed, people will still feel unhappy."

The idea of opening the Expo Park earlier has been raised before. Participants in a panel discussion held by the ECB in March suggested that opening the park at 7 am could prevent rush hour congestion and give visitors extra time to take photos.

The Expo Park is open from 9 am until midnight every day, with pavilions open for a maximum of 13 hours each day, allowing them time for regular cleaning and maintenance.

Ni Dandan contributed to this story