The Swiss Pavilion unveiled a revolving chair lift system that lifts visitors from the ground floor to a grass-covered rooftop terrace at the World Expo Shanghai Exhibition Center on Thursday.

It became the first national pavilion to publicly showcase its exhibits on Thursday at the opening of the "Promotion Week of the Swiss Pavilion" in Shanghai.

The Swiss Pavilion also introduced a semi-transparent facade made of aluminum netting fitted with 11,000 intelligent solar cells that envelops the pavilion.

These cells interact with energy from the sun or camera flashes, converting it into bursts of light that make the facade sparkle, according to the official website of the Swiss Pavilion.

Blaise Godet, the Swiss ambassador to China, said at the opening that the year 2010 will be very special for China and Switzerland, not only because of the Expo, but also because the two countries will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The Swiss Pavilion was also the first to unveil its design in 2007, which features a chairlift connecting the building's vast, grass-covered roof and two load-bearing cylinders.

Uli Sigg, general commissioner for the Swiss Pavilion, described the space as "nature's playground" and promised that it will be a fun place to visit that will feature interaction between rural and urban spaces.

The chair lift, 3D viewers, the intelligent facade and other exhibits will also be on display at the Shanghai International Science & Art Exhibition from May 15 to 20.

The Swiss Pavilion at the Expo 2010 Shanghai boasts a total area of 4,000 square meters, three times the size of the Expo 2005 exhibit at Aichi, Japan.

(CRIENGLISH.com May 8, 2009)