Expecting a showcase of new technology in SH Expo, onto my surprise, there are some pavilions focusing on sustainable development in SH Expo. 

It is not a new topic at all if technology could bring people closer.  It is obvious that technology could bring us a more comfortable life, which the invention of air-conditioner is a typical example.  However, it is always a contradiction that technology could bring people closer on one hand, but deviate people on the other hand.  I don’t mention the arguments here as it’s not the main focus.  What I would like to highlight is our future could not be relied on the development of technology only .

Among the pavilions I visited, the pavilion impressed me most was the pavilion of Estonia.  Almost all the pavilions are showing you their countries, cities, their technology and achievements.  However, in the pavilion of Estonia, it’s a vote.  The concept of Estonia pavilion is SH Expo is a good chance to collect people’s opinions, rather than showing you how their country looks like.  When you go into Estonia pavilion, you could see many giant piggy banks.  There are different issues on the banks, and you can give a vote to the issue that you think is most important to a better city.  After giving your vote, you can move further inside and there are some videos introducing the country, Estonia, in different aspects.  Regardless of the effectiveness of the vote, it gave us some insights of how to develop a better city, and by the decision of using almost 3/4 of the pavilion for collecting people’s opinions, it is worth for showing much appreciation to them.  If you would like to know more about their idea and what the issues are, don’t hesitate to visit their website, http://www.savecity.org/en.  Yes! They made a website for this event and even in both Chinese and English version.  Though it’s not dynamic enough, I still show my appreciation to their efforts.

Though the pavilions of countries are much larger, Zone E, the UBPA displays, should not be neglected.  A typical example is the case of Bilbao.  You could see how a city reform, from an industrial city to a city focusing on tourism and services.  Another example is the case of Madrid.  Its building is surrounded by bamboos, which is the way of building they used for the housing of poor people.  The use of bamboo could shadow the people against sunlight and wind, make them feel cool in the summer and feel warm in the winter.  It is showing how technology and different decision makings bring us a better life in a practical way.

No matter what you got from the SH Expo, it’s a good chance to widen the horizons.  I know more about different countries, cities, and even some places that I have never heard.  Certainly, I would not become an expert immediately.  However, it certainly aroused my interest to some specific countries, and I will search some more information about them when I return home.  The horizon and the arousal of interest are the most precious things in the trip.  You may not increase your knowledge, but certainly will increase your hunger for more knowledge.