The China Pavilion for the 2025 Osaka Expo, which will open to the public on April 13, is expected to impress visitors with its traditional Chinese cultural elements, such as the bamboo scroll, and show China's philosophy of green and sustainable development, said a Chinese official at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Covering around 3,500 square meters, the pavilion ranks among the largest foreign self-built facilities at the expo.
Inspired by traditional calligraphy scrolls, the pavilion's architectural design embodies the theme of "Building a Community of Life for Man and Nature - Future Society of Green Development."
The pavilion will feature three sections to showcase China's traditional ecological wisdom, modern green development initiatives, and its vision of global cooperation in fostering a sustainable future.
Curated by a Chinese exhibition team, the pavilion incorporates advanced display technologies and emphasizes immersive and interactive experiences.
"The China Pavilion draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese scroll, featuring a bamboo-yellow exterior that resembles an unfolding scroll, allowing visitors to feel the strong Chinese elements and rich cultural atmosphere at the first sight. The pavilion embodies the core concept of green and sustainable development. The construction process itself serves as a vivid example of telling China's story well," said Wu Shengrong, director of the Exhibition Management Department, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Breaking ground on Feb 2, 2024, the pavilion is currently the only large foreign self-built pavilion to have successfully passed all required approvals and inspections of the expo, Wu added.
Themed "Designing Future Society of Our Lives," the 2025 Osaka Expo will be held from April 13 to Oct 13.
China Pavilion for Osaka Expo highlights cultural vibes, green development: official
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
