In celebration of International Children's Day on Tuesday, pavilions in the Expo Garden have planned plenty of events for the kids, ranging from a treasure hunt to painting and dancing activities.

On the Pudong side of the Expo Garden, national pavilions have prepared a variety of interactive activities for children to learn through playing.

A treasure hunt has been planned inside the Denmark Pavilion, along with a Little Mermaid drawing contest and a quiz in which kids answer simple multiple-choice questions about Denmark and Danish culture.

Children are invited to practice their dancing skills in a special limbo competition on the rooftop of the pavilion.

After the fun, children will be given a Danish treat and a special certificate.

The Russian Pavilion will welcome Russian and Chinese children to create paintings reflecting their view of the future. Their artwork will be displayed in the pavilion. There will also be a dance performance by Russian children. Visitors can also get their faces painted by the kids.

At the Dala House Square outside the Sweden Pavilion, children from Yushu will play zithers (Chinese stringed musical instruments) and put on a painting show.

Guides from the Iceland Pavilion will also join the celebration in the Sweden Pavilion and accompany children to other northern European pavilions for fun and games. Four 30-minute reading sessions in the Swedish Pavilion will teach children Swedish and graffiti painting through famous Swedish fairytales like Pippi Longstocking.

Themed "A Piece of Norway in China", the Norway Pavilion will feature the Manger School Brass Band, a band of 40 kids from Norway. The band, which is considered one of the best brass bands in Norway and Europe, will perform until Tuesday at the Europe Square.

In the Poland Pavilion, a performance called Tiger Pietrek and the Polish Dragon is for kids.

The Spain Pavilion will celebrate Children's Day with games, gifts and prizes, centered around its "giant baby" Migueln.

The first 50 children visitors at the Africa Joint Pavilion will receive theme books and souvenirs. African celebrities will play games with kids and lead a tour of the pavilion.

On the Puxi side of the Expo Garden, five different performances organized by various pavilions are scheduled. They will feature poetry readings and stage performances.

At the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Pavilion, Hu Yuexiang, a captain from the China Shipping (Group) Company will tell tales of his life at sea and share his knowledge of sailing.

Outside the Coca-Cola Pavilion, visitors can play games and take photos with pavilion mascots.

A parade of pavilion mascots will be held three times a day in Puxi. Coca-Cola, Aurora, CSSC and some national pavilions will participate in the event. Three mascots from the State Grid Pavilion, named Ampere, Volt and Ohm, will make their first public appearances and play games with kids.

The Expo Garden also has prepared services and facilities for parents and children on Tuesday. Parent and child service centers are located near the main entrances and exits. Strollers are available for free (a 200-yuan deposit is required) at service centers near entrances.

(China Daily May 31, 2010)