The Taiwan Pavilion that was erected at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo is to be officially lit up in Hsinchu City today and is expected to be opened to the public by the end of the year, according to the city government.
The lighting ceremony, along with a concert and a lantern display, is to coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the city government said, adding the event stands to attract 100,000 people.
Pulling in more than 700,000 visitors, the Taiwan Pavilion was one of the most popular features of the six-month expo in Shanghai. It was dismantled soon after the expo closed in late October 2010 and was shipped back to Taiwan for reassembly.
The building was designed by prominent Taiwanese architect Lee Tsu-yuan (李祖原), who also designed Taipei 101.
At its center is a ball 16m in diameter consisting of 1 million LEDs that display various images reflecting Taiwan’s natural beauty and diverse culture. Inside the ball is a 12m-wide screen that shows films of Taiwan. There are to be small changes made to the building so that those who have already visited the pavilion can enjoy it as much as those who have not yet seen it, the city government said.
The pavilion not only highlights Taiwan’s cutting-edge technology, but also showcases some of Taiwan’s best natural and cultural attractions, including Sun Moon Lake (日月潭), Yingge ceramics, rocks from Yushan (玉山) and an infinity pool symbolizing the Pacific Ocean.
Hsinchu purchased the pavilion at a cost of more than NT$450 million (US$15.35 million), with the plan of establishing an industrial innovation park as part of its efforts to boost tourism in the city.
The pavilion is to be one of two main facilities at the Hsinchu Science Park, the largest science park in Taiwan, where there is to be an exhibition hall situated in a renovated warehouse, the city government said.
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