Denmark to showcase "Dream City" in Shanghai Expo pavilion

COPENHAGEN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Fairytales, the Little Mermaid and bikes will help Denmark stage a "Dream City" in its pavilion during the Shanghai 2010 World Expo, said a Danish foreign ministry official on Monday.

"The Dream City" is the theme of the Danish pavilion in the Expo, said Jens Martin Alsbirk from the Center for Africa, Asia, Americas and the Middle East of the Danish foreign ministry in an interview with Xinhua, adding the exposition would be the best chance to introduce Denmark to China and the world.

The Danish pavilion is to showcase the lifestyle of the Danish people as well as their plans for sustainable urban development, said Alsbirk.

He said many Danish icons would be brought to the event to build a more authentic picture of the north European nation. Among them is the Little Mermaid, the statue of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale character and one of Denmark's top tourist attractions.

The Little Mermaid is to travel abroad for the very first time and be placed in the center of the pavilion in a harbor pool during the fair.

The pavilion will also be constructed in a way that guests could bike around it both inside and outside. The Danish side will provide bikes to visitors, and these bikes are to encourage the use of environmentally friendly means of transportation in urban areas, Alsbirk said.

Denmark is a nation of bikes, and Copenhagen, the capital city is famous for its free city bikes.

The 2010 World Expo is scheduled from May 1 to Oct. 31 this year in China's Shanghai.