Shanghai World Expo: Weird and Fun Stuff From Around the World
Fireworks illuminate the sky during the opening ceremony of the World Expo in Shanghai on April 30, 2010.China kicked off the six-month World Expo -- the largest world's fair ever -- with a lavish star-studded opening gala attended by a host of world leaders. Before it closes on Oct. 31, visitors will have seen some of the best, most brilliant, and most bizarre things countries from around the world had to show off. China saw it as a way to demonstrate its growing power and influence in the world. Others saw it as an excuse for a good time.
Screwing in Lightbulbs in the U.K. Pavilion
Chinese worker ready the lit-up hall of lights for the U.K. pavilion.
Raise the Red Flag
Trumpet the Expo to the World
A trumpet-shaped structure was created to soak up the sun's rays to light up galleries and catch rain to water the green areas of the Expo.
On Pins and Needles
The Union Jack flag flutters next to the U.K. pavilion.
LIke Disney Land for the Creative
Little Nepal in Shanghai
Pearl of Shanghai
An illuminated sign for the World Expo 2010 is displayed next to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
Behind the Blue Curtain
A visitor touches illuminated rods symbolizing a bamboo forest inside the Chinese pavilion.
Why Settle for Only One Wallpaper
A visitor walks past the Estonian pavilion.
Latvian Weave
A visitor walks down the stairs of the Latvian pavilion.
Turkish Delight
Chinese children rest againt the wall of the Turkish pavilion.
Mountains of Montenegro
Visitors smile as they chat on a bench outside the Montenegro pavilion.
The Rain in Spain
A man walks past visitors as they line up under the rain to enter the Spanish pavilion.
You Big Baby
People are dwarfed by a huge animated baby inside the Spanish pavilion.
Packing Them In at the Pakistani Pavilion
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (second from left) and his two daughters visit the Pakistani pavilion. A Pakistan army contingent had been taking part in joint anti-terror exercises with the Chinese military in China in the latest sign of closer relations between the two countries.
Honeycomb Kid
A performer from the Iranian pavilion gets ready before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit.
Smiles All Around
An exhibition of Chinese children wraps around the French pavilion.
Flower Power
Visitors exit the Venezuelan pavilion.
Lonely Mermaid
A man walks the stairs of the Danish pavilion, where Denmark's iconic Little Mermaid statue waits to be unveiled at the site.
Smoke and Mirrors
Visitors look at screens displaying images of ash spewed from Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano at the Iceland pavilion.
Diamonds Are For Everyone
A man shapes a diamond at the Belgium pavilion during the visit of Philippe of Belgium.
S-wheeee-dish!Visitors enjoy a slide inside the Swedish pavilion.
Seed Cathedral
The U.K. pavilion was a six-story object formed from some 60,000 slender transparent rods that extend from the structure and quiver in the breeze. During the day, each of the rods acts like fiber-optic filaments, drawing on daylight to illuminate the interior. Encased on the inside of the rods are seeds of plants used in conservation programs around the world.
Shadows of Africa
A visitor holding an umbrella walks past a decorated wall in the African zone.
Chorus of the World
Singers welcome guests at the opening ceremony. From the United States to North Korea, a total of 189 countries took part in the expo, which saw tens of millions of visitors.
Guess Which Country This Represents
Performers painted in gray hold umbrellas in front of the British pavilion.
Natural Performer
A performer wears a tree costume in front of the Canadian pavilion.
Hamster Ball for Humans
A parade of various European entertainers perform in front of long lines of visitors at the expo.
King of Kings
A performer from the Iranian pavilion dressed similar to Darius I of Persia (nicknamed King of Kings) poses during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit.