Shanghai gets ready for country's first import expo

A vast flowerbed and tall columns shaped like vases have already been set up in front of the venue. [Photo: IC]

With the China International Import Expo (CIIE) around the corner, Shanghai is getting ready to host thousands of business people from around the globe. 

The National Exhibition and Convention Center, the largest in Asia and second largest globally, is due to host more than 150-thousand purchasers from 130 countries. 

Nearly 70 supporting projects for services have been completed in Shanghai's Qingpu District where the venue is located.

The construction of 15 roads around the expo site has been completed, as has a pedestrian corridor connecting Hongqiao central business district with the expo venue.

It shortens the walking time from over 1 hour to just 20 minutes.

An Internet network including a 5G integrated base station was completed at exhibition venues earlier this week, covering an area of 300-thousand square meters.

Yang Bingfeng is with China Telecom's Shanghai branch.

"Here at the exhibition of the China International Import Expo, we have built a new 4G network which allows 300,000 people to simultaneously use 4G, and the download rate could reach 50 megabytes per second," says Yang Bingfeng.

Jin Xiaohua, a wireless design project manager, says the 5G integrated base station is designed to provide internet with wide bandwidths, low delay and high speed.

"The 5G base station provides us with a wireless passage to send HDs. It could also be used for VR interaction, which is a huge leap from the original 4G network."

As the event approaches, workers have been laying out the exhibition area stretching up to 100 square meters.

A vast flowerbed and eight tall columns shaped like vases have already been set up in front of the venue. 

Jia Lin is the landscape designer for the exhibition center.

"The eight columns at the entrance indicate a warm welcome to friends from all over the world. They are shaped like blue and white porcelain vases, as vases represent peace in Chinese. When all the work is finished, the guests will see a sea of flowers, fountains and an array of flags at this square when they enter here," says Jia Lin.

Timetables have been extended on 17 bus lines, eight new shuttle bus lines have been created, and 100 backup buses are ready for emergencies each day.

More than 1,700 hotels are listed, which are able to provide more than 250-thousand rooms and 410-thousand beds.

Over the past six months, nearly 50 tourist information service stations have been set up in various large commercial complexes, creative parks and cruise ship terminals in the city.