Shanghai World Expo 2010 - The Performing Arts Centre

The Expo Performing Arts Centre is one of the main anchor buildings at the Expo Site. It is quite a spectacular building, with its futuristic flying saucer shape perched on top of a hill. This is where all the main expo events are staged and broadcasted all over the world, including the Opening Ceremony.

The building itself is quite captivating with its unique shape and looks like a clam with its 2 white shells clamped together. Between the shells is a gap where the Observation Deck is located. From here you get great views of the Expo Site and also the Huang Pu River.

Covered in white shiny panels, the façade is punctured with many small circular windows which are either decorative or bring light into the internal spaces.

The building is much bigger then it looks – with its curvilinear shape hiding the actual bulk. It has many levels internally, with lots of restaurants and cafes at the Observation Deck level and many more F&B outlets at the ground level.

This is a great place for a pit-stop between visits to the pavilions.