The 40 millionth visitor to the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai wandered through the turnstile at exactly 10:12 AM Saturday, according to the the Expo Coordination Bureau.

Saturday, the 106th day since the Expo opened on May 1, saw temperatures hover at 40 degrees Celsius.

Around 1:00 PM Saturday, a high-temperature red alert was announced at the Expo Garden, indicating the temperature had reached 40 degrees Celsius.

It was the third consecutive day of scorching weather since Aug. 12.

An average of about 400,000 people swarmed into the venue each day in early August. The daily figure is expected to exceed 600,000 in September and October when the weather cools.

The Expo is expected to receive about 70 million visitors from home and aboard. The 10 millionth visitor was seen on June 5, the 20 millionth on June 28 and the 30 millionth on July 21.

Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, said the number of visitors was "not a deciding factor" in its success.

"The 70 million figure is only an estimate. The venue's comfort level is more important. 'Administrative means' should not be used to organize visitors to the Expo in order to reach the goal," Yu told local media.

An estimated 20 million people still hold Expo tickets, but have not yet visited, and ticket sales will continue each day till the end of the event on Oct. 31.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2010)