Green, sustainable development

Responding to the theme "Better City, Better Life," many countries are focusing on displaying their achievements in green and sustainable development, calling for a brighter future for mankind.

Britain has built a "Crystal Palace" -- a dazzling cube formed by more than 60,000 slim and transparent acrylic rods containing seeds of different plants that were collected in a bio-diversity project.

The pavilion, nicknamed "dandelion" by the Chinese public, intends to convey the idea of "Building on the Past, Shaping our Future." The designer said he hoped the seeds will bring city residents back to nature.

The Japanese pavilion, costing US$133 million, is a semi-circular structure covered by a purple-colored membrane, and is dubbed "Purple Silkworm Island" by local residents in Shanghai.

Solar energy and advanced environment-friendly and recycling technologies were used in building the "island" to make it a "breathing organism" and promote harmony between man and nature.

The Russians, who view the event as a "global science and technology contest," will introduce their breakthroughs in tidal power stations and new nuclear technologies in energy and ecological spheres.

"Through the World Expo, we would like to show the world the true image of a new Russia that has undergone huge transformations in economy, culture and society," Russia's Expo Commissioner General Vladimir Strashko said.

Hamburg, a sister city of Shanghai, built a "Hamburg House" in the expo park, using solar and geothermal energy and ventilation systems to make its energy consumption 86 percent less than ordinary buildings of the same size.

The house will be transferred to the Shanghai municipality as a gift after the expo, serving as a symbol of friendship between the two cities.