Shanghai World Expo News in Brief

SHANGHAI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The following are highlights of latest developments in preparations for the upcoming World Expo 2010 in Shanghai:

COLLECTIONS OF TWO GERMAN MUSEUMS TO BE DISPLAYED AT WORLD EXPO

Some treasures from Berlin National Museum and a national artwork collections museum in Dresden as well as related replicas have been delivered to the "city-footprint" pavilion, one of the five theme pavilions for the Shanghai World Expo from May 1 to Oct. 31, according to organizers.

The exhibits from Germany, valued at more than 6 million U.S. dollars, include cultural relics of the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in ancient time and related replicas and historic and cultural heritage of Germany.

A total of 300-plus items of cultural relics borrowed from Chinese and foreign museums will be displayed at the "city-footprint" pavilion during the 184-day Expo.

920 EXPO PARADES IN ANTICIPATION

Five parades every day, or 920 in total, will be performed for the upcoming Shanghai World Expo, with 20-odd "zero-carbon-emission" floats to be employed and performers from some 60 countries and regions.

Organizers have also released plans for 13 major theme activities for the Expo.

Among them are performance of traditional Chinese arts set for each day of the period from May 1 to Oct.31, a chorus festival set for July 21, an urban plaza festival, a future urban occupation experiencing garden tailored to visitors aged from 7 to 15, and daily puppet and shadow plays based on Chinese classics of Journey to the West and the Romance of Three Kindoms.

Meanwhile, Shaoli martial arts shows are set for each day of the period from July 1 to Aug. 31, and Wudang kungfu shows for every day during the period between July 1 and Sept. 30.