CRI听力:Expo Night View Wows Tourists

Some people at the Shanghai World Expo site may be tired of the muggy weather and daytime crowds. But when night falls, they can enjoy a completely different experience.

Our reporter, Zhang Ru, who is covering the World Expo in Shanghai, takes a closer look.



At half-past seven in the evening, the daily music fountain show along the Huangpu River attracts a large number of tourists at the Shanghai World Expo.

"Wow, the fountain is very high. It erupts at least 10 meters."

"The water dances to the music. It's gorgeous."

The lights of all the pavilions are on at night, giving tourists a different view they can't see during the day. Besides walking around the Expo site, tourists can also enjoy the night view from cruise ships.

The cruises give tourists onboard an overview of the Expo site, the Nanpu Bridge and the Bund, which is a Shanghai landmark. They can also enjoy the music fountain.

"The night view here is very beautiful. I have already heard that Shanghai's night view is one of the most fabulous in China."

"The Expo at night is more wonderful than in daytime, especially the China Pavilion and the Performance Center. The fountain show I watched just now is also very good."

The cruise tour starts at 7:15 p.m. from the water gate near the Japan Pavilion. The 40-mintue trip costs 30 yuan, or about 4 U.S. dollars, per person.

A Shanghai native says it is worth it.

"I will come to the Expo again next week. It's a rare opportunity. For me, it's a kind of enjoyment."

Also, the pavilions provide more interactive activities at night.

A Belgian band is performing outside the Belgium Pavilion with tourists standing around a small stage.

Visitor Guo Jingjing is tapping her toes to the music.

"The band here is playing jazz. It makes me feel like I'm in a foreign country."

The Expo sells night tickets to help tourists avoid peak hours. Each night ticket costs 90 yuan, about 13 U.S. dollars, almost half of the price of a normal daytime ticket which costs 160 yuan. Night ticket holders can enter the Expo site at 5 p.m.

Some volunteers say that nighttime tickets may save tourists the time they would usually have to spend standing in lines during the day so that they can visit more pavilions at night.

For CRI, I am Zhang Ru in Shanghai.