Shanghai announced a fixed entrance ticket price of 160 yuan (US$21.1) for the upcoming 2010 World Expo yesterday. The ticket price was reached after weighing up costs and foreign exchange fluctuations. It may vary due to different factors, with around 158 countries and regions taking part in the exposition, adding to the World Expo's tourism draw.

The 160-yuan ticket price is a yardstick with several discounts organized for different age groups and visiting times, the municipal government stated, with students, seniors and tour groups to benefit from special prices, as was previously reported by the Chinese News Service.

The World Exposition Shanghai China, the organization responsible for the coming Expo, is seeking to begin sales right after the close of the Beijing Olympics and overseas visitors will be able to use official websites such as www.expo2010china.com or World Expo partners around the world to purchase their tickets.

Shanghai natives greeted the pricing with mixed feelings, with many thinking the price tag was reasonable for an international event although others saw it as markedly expensive.

"I think the price is both reasonable and acceptable. And I would like to have a look at the World Expo that is held in my hometown," said Alex Li, editor in Jie Fang Daily's new media.

Vanessa Wang, a local white-collar worker, disagreed: "The exposition does not represent my profession. I can hardly accept a ticket priced at 160 yuan just for architectural creativities. I think a 50-percent discount might entice me to go."

Currently, about 158 countries and regions have confirmed their attendance at the 184-day event with a total of 170 expected to turn out before recruitment closes at the end of the year.

The city will receive about 70 million people for the World Expo held from May 1 to October 31 which will come as a great challenge for the city's management staff.

Before the curtain rises on the World Expo, Shanghai will benefit from 400 more kilometers of subways and 60 highways connecting Shanghai to its neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

(China.org.cn by Wu Jin, August 1, 2007)