The German Pavilion's "balanced city" concept at Shanghai's World Expo has easily exceeded organizers' hopes, drawing more than 3.2 million visitors since opening in May.

Dietmar Schmitz, commissioner general of the Pavilion told Monday about 25,000 people a day had visited the pavilion during in the past 135 days. Queuing time was three hours and touring the pavilion usually lasted about an hour.

"(It was) beyond our expectations," he said. "What we get was not only the public, but also experts and professionals. These people are responsible in the future for planning modern cities. So it's an honor that they come to us."

Schmitz believed the "secret" of the pavilion's success lay in the way it integrated information with entertainment, and people could experience cutting-edge technologies through watching, hearing and touching.

"Many visitors think that the Pavilion is not only interesting, but also full of knowledge. When they leave, they will find the long waiting before is worthwhile, and there is something that can stay in their memories," Schmitz said.

With a size of nearly 6,000 square meters, the German pavilion is the largest of the overseas pavilions at Expo. It is also Germany's biggest contribution to a World Expo, costing 30 million euros (39 million U.S. dollars) and beginning construction in 2006.

The Pavilion, named "Balacity," presented Germany's insights into and solutions to building a modern city in the 21st century, which echoed the theme of Shanghai Expo -- better city, better life.

Designers said, with 13 different sub-themes and four exhibition halls, the Pavilion was intended to demonstrate a sustainable city in balance "between renewal and preservation, innovation and tradition, urbanity and nature, society and individuals, work and recreation, and finally, between globalization and national identity."

More than 240 countries, regions and international organizations have contributed to Expo, which opened on May 1 and runs to Oct. 31. Organizers say it has received 50 million visitors from around the world in the past four months.

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