China FDC on "Site of Shanghai Expo"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


Site of Shanghai Expo

Date of Issue : 21 January 2010

(Top FDC)
Souvenir Sheet : Expo Boulevard
Stretching one kilometer in the central part of the Expo Site, the Expo Boulevard is a two-story, semi-opening structure, which serves as the transportation hub of the Expo Site, topped by white films. Covering a floor space of 250,000 square meters, it it the largest single-unit building in the Expo Site. The Expo Boulevard links together China Pavilion, Theme Pavilion, Expo Center, and Performance Center, all contributing to an architectural spectacle. After the Shanghai Expo, the "one boulevard and four pavilions" will be permanently preserved on the site as the most significant exhibit and the major landscape zone in the Expo Site.

(2nd FDC from top)
4-1 : Expo Center
Covering a floor space of some 140,000 square meters on the southern bank of the Huangpu River to the west of the Expo Boulevard, the Expo Center will serve as the operational command center, celebration and convention center, media center, and forum venue of the Shanghai Expo.

(3rd FDC from top)
4-2 : China Pavilion
Towering 63 meters to the east of the Expo Boulevard and covering a total floor space of 160,000 square meters, the China Pavilion is the tallest and largest national pavilion in the Expo Site.

(4th FDC from top)
4-3 : Performance Center
Covering a floor space of 80,00 square meters on the southern bank of the Huangpu River to the east of the Expo Boulevard, the Performance Center will be the main venue for grand performing activities during the Shanghai Expo. Featuring a giant central stage, which varies in dimensions and shape according to the performance content, the Center is capable of accommodating an audience of 18,000 and adapting to different demands in stage design for various performing arts, being the first of its kind in China. After the World Expo, the Performance Center will be developed into a cultural district integrating art performance, art exhibition, athletic competition, and fashionable recreation.

(5th FDC from top)
4-4 : Theme Pavilion
Facing China Pavilion in the east across the Expo Boulevard and covering a floor space of 143,000 square meters, the Theme Pavilion is the largest of its kind in the history of the World Expo. It comprises three exhibition halls, namely Urbanian Pavilion, Pavilion of City Being and Pavilion of Urban Planet, which, alongside the Urban Civilization Pavilion and Urban Future Pavilion situated in Puxi section of the Expo Site, present the Expo theme, "Better City, Better Life", from varying angles.

All the 5 FDCs are very nice, especially the souvenir sheet FDC. I very much like them. On each FDC, you can found a 100 days count down to Shanghai Expo special cancellation. You could also notice that all the FDCs were sent from Zhoujiadu Post Office (周家渡邮局), which is the nearest post office to the Shanghai Expo.