Asia exhibits architectural feats at Expo

SHANGHAI, CHINA--A platoon of security guards line up before their scheduled shifts are due.
With some 500,000 visitors expected to arrive at the Expo each day, a group of 1.7 million volunteers have been trained to serve functions such as crowd control and to provide tour guidance over the site that spans 5 square kilometers.

Photo by Victoria Ho

The Thai pavilion, distinct with the country's colors of red and gold.

Photo by Victoria Ho

Singapore's pavilion was designed to resemble a music box, with its round shape and metal strips jutting out the exterior. The lines are also clear windows allowing light to pour out of the structure at night.
Inside, the country showcased its local pop stars over three circular theaters.

Photo by Victoria Ho

With the country's thriving electronics industry, South Korea chose a multicolored design for its interior to resemble pixels on a screen. The two-storey building saw a queue that took approximately 6 hours to clear from tail to entrance.

Photo by Victoria Ho

North Korea, or the Democrative People's Republic of Korea, also had a pavilion located some distance away, although the queue was considerably shorter, taking a mere 10 minutes to clear.

Photo by Victoria Ho

Inside the hall are mainly posters of North Korea's landmarks and landscape. On one of the walls, the phrase "Paradise of People" is inscribed and accompanied by videos of students in classrooms and adults in offices.

Photo by Victoria Ho

A closer look at some of the details: a pagoda with a rainbow painted on the wall behind it and some natural rock formations.

Photo by Victoria Ho

The guide at the Bangladesh Pavilion noted the throngs of people visiting each day. The expo closes at midnight every day, and he said the hours were long for the staff in attendance, and that the crowds streaming in seemed "endless".

Photo by Victoria Ho