China’s financial superpower in the 1930s, Shanghai faltered after communist takeover in 1949, but has now regained its economic prowess as the biggest commerce centre in mainland China. The city is also the country’s design and culture capital — and at over 20 million, the nation’s most populous. The Lonely Planet calls Shanghai the place “where China first met the West… obsessed with the latest fads, fashion and technology.”

In 2010, this dynamic city with prominent early 20th-century European architecture, hidden, old Chinese temples and modern soaring skyscrapers will host Expo 2010 Shanghai. From May 1 to Oct. 31, 2010, a 5.28-sq. km swath in the heart of the city will be dedicated to forums, events and exhibitions under the theme of “Better City, Better Life.” Expo 2010 will be a six-month celebration of urban living — meaning there’s never been a better time to plan your trip to Shanghai and beyond.

By hosting the Expo, China is acknowledging the importance of the international community in its continued expansion and development. It will be the very first Expo to focus on urban life — surprising considering 55% of the earth’s population is expected to live in cities by next year. Managing better, cleaner, more livable and more prosperous cities is thus of interest to every world leader and global citizen — no matter which country he or she hails from. For the duration of the event, governments and people the world over will converge on Shanghai to exchange ideas about sustainable development, working conditions, human habitat, ecology, blending cultures, economic prosperity, scientific and technological innovation, remodelling communities within cities and developing better relations between cities and rural areas.

The Expo’s emblem (not to be confused with its mascot) was designed based on the shape of the Chinese character meaning “world,” chosen because it represents the Expo’s celebration of the earth’s diverse cultures.

China has serious star power behind the campaign for Expo 2010 — including Hong Kong action hero, Jackie Chan. Shanghai native, Yao Ming is also on-board. As promotional ambassador, the Houston Rockets’ centre hopes to bring more attention — and attendees — to the event. Chan, Ming and a host of others will work together to achieve the Expo’s lofty goals: Expo 2010 Shanghai hopes to attract 200 countries and international organizations and 70 million Chinese and international visitors — all told, that number would make it history’s most attended Expo.

Shanghai Expo 2010 might be the impetus behind your first trip to China, but an entire country lays beyond, ready to be discovered. Lifestyle’s Julia LeConte shares highlights of a recent five-month Chinese adventure.

Taking the train from Hong Kong to Beijing takes 24 hours, but deposits you a world away from where you boarded. The differences between the two cities, as well as the farmland and villages that can be seen along the way — are snapshots of a diverse, varied country containing one fifth of the world’s population.
The KCR (Kowloon-Canton Railway) turns 100 next year, marking a century of transporting people and goods from Hong Kong to mainland China. In its infancy, it extended only to Canton (presently called Guangzhou). Now merged with the MTR (Mass Transit Railway), it goes all the way to Shanghai on the central eastern coast, and even further, to the capital, Beijing in the north.

We stepped out of a slick station in Kowloon (an urban, Hong Kong neighbourhood), onto our sleeper carriage and an entire day later were deposited into the chaotic frenzy that was Beijing West Station. The ground we covered, though, was merely a tiny slice of the third-largest country by area in the world, one that contains a plethora of historic sites, natural wonders and vibrant urban areas — too much to cover in one visit, but enough to ensure you’ll want to visit again, and again, and again…

Modern Mascot  
Expo 2010’s goodwill ambassador

Introducing Haibao! The little blue creature, based on the shape o the Chinese character for “people,” will represent Expo 2010 Shanghai. Careful consideration went into creating the mascot and making him the perfect representation of China, Shanghai and the Expo.

Hong Kong
Expat-filled, financial capital Hong Kong is the perfect place to begin a Chinese holiday. Its western feel (courtesy of British rule dating from the mid-19th century to 1997) coupled with traditional Chinese neighbourhoods, allows you to ease into your trip, in a largely English-speaking city with bilingual signage.

The nightlife- and banking-heavy area, Central, is towering with skyscrapers and bursting with revellers by night; densely populated, market- and food stall-saturated Mong Kok has a distinctly Chinese feel; and Tsim Tsa Tsui, with its wide and sparkly streets filled with Pakistani kitchens, Indian tailors and African traders, feels like nowhere else on earth.

The city consists of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, as well as various other small islands. Most of the action is either on the island side (Hong Kong Island) or the Kowloon side (Kowloon Peninsula), and the two are connected by both the MTR subway system and an underwater highway. But first-time visitors to H.K. should take the inexpensive and scenic ferry ride across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Tsa Tsui to Central.

Once in Central, shopping, nightlife and endless activity are at your fingertips. Taking the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak will give you an absolutely stunning view of Hong Kong’s skyline — and the journey there and back (in the world’s steepest tram railway) is an adventure in itself.

A night out in side-by-side neighbourhoods Lan Kwai Fong and Soho — the city’s best areas for all-night partying, completes any day in Central. If clubbing and bars aren’t your thing, hit the tracks in nearby Happy Valley to take in some horse racing.

Beijing
Be prepared in Beijing for the locals to not understand or speak your language. Slightly naïve in our belief that surely “someone would speak English,” we had difficulty navigating away from Beijing West Station. Luckily, we had the name of our hostel written down in Chinese — essential if you’re travelling without a tour guide or interpreter.

Once we overcame that hurdle our Beijing stay was smooth. Locals are helpful and taxi drivers are very familiar with how to get you to the main tourist attractions. These landmarks, unlike major draws in other large cities — carry a lot of weight, without touristy kitsch. They’re not so much symbols of the city, as incredible historic sites.

For example, you can visit New York without seeing the Statue of Liberty. You simply can’t be in Beijing without going to the Forbidden City. Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Mao Ze Dong Mausoleum are all must-visits within walking distance of each other. Summer Palace is about a half hour’s drive northwest of downtown.

We were lucky to stay in one of Beijing’s gorgeous, ancient Hutongs. Visitors who aren’t sleeping in a Hutong neighbourhood should definitely take a few hours to explore one by foot. Hutongs were built as far back as the Yuan dynasty (1206-1341), and although they continued to spread over the city for centuries, many have recently been destroyed in favour of modern infrastructure. The narrow, grey streets and alleys that are adjoined by courtyards are distinctly Beijing-esque and the Hutong streets surrounding our hostel were brightened by stunning, red lanterns at every turn.

A trip to China, let alone Beijing, is sorely lacking if you leave out The Great Wall. About 6,400 kilometres in length and built between the 5th century BC and the 16th century, the wall deserves its celebrity status and is breathtaking at any time of the year. There are plenty of tours to join in Beijing that will transport tourists from downtown. But it’s one thing to marvel at it from afar and another to stand on the wall itself. We trekked along the wall for three hours, watching its formation and the landscape around us change with every twist in the architecture and turn through each watchtower.