Zaragoza Expo site

Zaragoza Expo site

Spain's Expo Zaragoza might not quite be the headline-grabber that the Beijing Olympics are certain to be later this year, but it still shapes up as one of the premier events on the international calendar in 2008. And the Spaniards would like nothing more than the world to make an appearance when the show begins.

"From June 14 to September 14 this year, let's have a date with Zaragoza," Jeronimo Blasco, vice president of Expo Zaragoza, said at press conference in February in Shanghai as he introduced the 93-day world festival of culture and technology to the people of Shanghai.

Though a "specialized" Expo much smaller in scale and shorter in duration than the 2010 World Expo Shanghai, the Zaragoza event is sure to capture attention.

Expo Zaragoza will focus on a theme of "Water and Sustainable Development," featuring presentations from 102 countries, two international organizations, seven corporations and 18 Spanish regions.

Water was chosen as the theme because it is a crucial issue in the 21st century, Blasco said.

Three themed exhibitions will be showcased in unique locations at Zaragoza - the Bridge Pavilion (water, a unique resource), Water Tower (water for life) and River Aquarium (waterscapes).

Blasco said a special feature of the Spanish Expo was the use of water both inside and outside the pavilions by landscape designers for visitors to experience.

Not only does a river run across the 25-hectare Expo site, people can also visit a 150-hectare water park and meander through riverside forests and botanic gardens.

A one-day ticket will cost 35 euros (US$52) while a three-day pass will be 70 euros. Early bookings mean a 12-percent discount.

So far, more than 2.5 million tickets have been sold, according to Blasco. Organizers expect seven to nine million visitors during the three-month event.

Expo Zaragoza will be open for 17 hours each day - from 10am to 3am - giving visitors the chance to see night shows and avoid the sizzling Spanish summer heat.

More than 3,400 performances will take place. The night show is called "Iceberg, Visual Poetic Symphony," which could be very appropriate in the summer evenings.

Parades every day

Circque du Soleil, the famous Canadian troupe, will provide day-time parades while organizers said Spain's classical event - bull-fighting - might also be seen during the Expo.

The city hopes for plenty of Chinese tourists although the number of Chinese people visiting Spain comprises just

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