Shanghai World Expo

A view of the China Pavilion is seen at the site of Shanghai 2010 World Expo. The World Expo will run through October 31, and is expected to attract about 70 million visitors.

Visitors walk through the site of the 2010 World Expo during its soft opening in Shanghai.

A night view shows the Denmark pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo site. Many outside the country may struggle to recognize the event, but China sees it as opportunity to assert its growing global clout.

People look at Denmark's iconic little mermaid statue at the Denmark Pavillion. The pavillion's theme is Wellfairytales, and it covers about 3,000 square meters.

A visitor walks inside the China National Petroleum Corporation Pavilion. The exterior walls are decorated with petroleum and gas pipes, giving it a modern appearance.

A night view shows the Saudi Arabia Pavilion -- a hanging boat shaped like a half moon. Planted on the top half of the "moon boat" are date palms, creating a hanging garden, "thus epitomizing the oases in the desert," according to the Expo 2010 Web site.

Performers look at the "Energy Source," a 1.2 ton sphere with 400,000 LED lights that reacts to sound at the Germany Pavilion in the World Expo site.

Employees take pictures inside the Theme Pavilion of Shanghai. "Themed as 'New Horizons Forever,' it demonstrates a more charming harmonious and intelligent Shanghai through the external walls, waiting room and interior space," according to Expo 2010's Web site.

The Finnish pavilion, also called "Kirnu," has the slogan "sharing inspriation." The design -- both inside and out -- is modeled on elements of nature.

The World Expo 2010 opening ceremony will be held at the Expo Performance Center.

The Joint Africa Pavillion covers 26,000 square meters, and will be divided into 43 exhibition modules. Africa's exhibition area sits along the bank of the Huangpu River in the World Expo Park.

A man walks near the UK Pavilion for the World Expo during the first day of trial operation in Shanghai. The pavillion, also known as the "Seed Cathedral," is surrounded by an area designed to look like wrapping paper.

Seeds are encased in acrylic poles used for the facade of the Seed Cathedral, the centerpiece of the UK Pavilion. The 20-meter-high cube-like Seed Cathedral is covered by 60,000 slim, transparent acrylic rods, which will quiver in the breeze, according to the official Web site of Shanghai Expo.

The South Korea Pavillion's theme is "Friendly City, Colorful Life," and features the 20 basic letters of the ROK alphabet.

The Dutch Pavillion, also known as "Happy Street," is shaped like a figure 8 and is built on stilts. "The street looks like a suspended roller coaster," according to the Expo 2010 Web site.

People visit the World Expo Park in Shanghai. The World Expo Park went through six trial operations before officially kicking off.

The Spain Pavillion is also known as "The Basket." It's theme -- "From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children" -- highlights the tradition of wicker weaving in Spain and China.

People are seen walking along the Bund in Shanghai. The city has officially opened the World Expo, and expects to see 70 million visitors over the six-month event.