[part 2] Shanghai World Expo / 上海世博会

Last weekend, on a sunny clean afternoon, I went back to the derelict World Expo site in Shanghai with Gui and Steph. It had been a while since my first visit and I wanted to see what had changed. Well, on this side of the Huangpu river, the former World Expo site did not change much. However, the construction of a road and of a pathway for pedestrians along the river started right after the Spring Festival break so it should bring a lot of change in the next few months.

« Sustainability in decay »: ironic remains of the World Expo Museum

I have a great memory of my first visit to the World Expo site, of when I found where the remains of the World Expo Museum on the theme of sustainable city planning were. This vision of « sustainability in decay » is so ironic that it seems all the things were put there on purpose. On my second visit, everything was still there, quite surprisingly… Among the mess, I found a new sculpture, pretty beautiful!

Beautiful artwork in the trash, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
My favorite perspective!, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

The derelict Coca-Cola Pavilion

Last time, I did not visit the Coca-Cola Pavilion, so this time, I went closer and it was… really a mess.

Coca-Cola Pavilion, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

Inside the pavilion, there were kitsch fake trees and completely stupid evocations of an ecological civilisations of Coca-Cola, with plastic decorations like a Coca-Cola bottle hanging from a green-energy baloon… Really, you see how far these multinational firms can go as sponsors of an event on « sustainability »… How ridiculous!

Coca-Cola decorations, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
The oxymoron of an « ecological Coca-Cola », Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

The derelict Shanghai Corporate Pavilion

Then, there was still the derelict Shanghai Corporate Pavilion, which used to be so ambitious before the Expo, now offering a very interesting perspective on urban decay.

Broken elevator, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Mind your step, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Broken stairs, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

The derelict pathway

Still disused, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

The half re-used Shanghai shipping company

On the other end of the pathway, the CSSC Pavilion was half re-used by small creative companies. But most of the exhibition areas were closed while some objects were waiting to be thrown to the trash.

Locked main entrance, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Inside the whale’s skeletton, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Industrial structure of the building, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Abandoned Expo infrastructure, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Abandoned boat models, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

The derelict fake city of Abilia, a real-life simulation for kids

Finally, there was something hidden in this area that we did not notice the last time because it is located underground: the fake miniature neoliberal city for kids to have fun learning how to behave in daily life for their future as « good citizens »… Wow, this area was really something…

Entrance, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Traffic lights, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Public square, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Post office, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Tram station, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
City lights, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017
Strange place, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

I hope I will go back to the World Expo site again, and find more funny projects in decay!

An allegory of harmonious growth in China, Shanghai World Expo, Feb 2017

If you liked this report, you can click on the first report I wrote about this place with more details.

You can also read about some of the crazy projects (a crazy tall Ferris Wheel or a crazy mall shaped like the New York Twin Towers) that were planned in Beijing around the period of the 2008 Olympics.

6 thoughts on “[part 2] Shanghai World Expo / 上海世博会

  1. Hey Jude! Love the articles. Really want to check out the sites this weekend. Any tips on getting in?

    1. Just enjoy the discovery! No tips on this website about getting in (looking for a way in is part of the experience!), except wear comfortable shoes and dark clothes, be discreet, keep your eyes open and have fun! 🙂

      1. Thanks! Went to check it out today. Was able to get into the Romanian pavilion on the other side. No luck getting into this one though :p Trying again on Monday!

        1. Nice, have fun, there’s plenty to explore in this Expo site (on both sides of the river)! You’ll be very happy when you find a way in, that’s why I never tell anybody how to do it 🙂

  2. on pudong side of the river, everything is going down. bulldozers and all the roaring monsters are cleaning up the whole space.
    tried the other side the other day, since the riverside trail is now finished and opening to the public, blue shirts are everywhere, inside out…….
    it’s too late now…….

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