The China Pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan had drawn over one million visitors by Wednesday, making it one of the most popular venues of the event.
On Wednesday afternoon, when Asakawa family entered the China Pavilion, they were greeted with words of "Welcome the millionth visitor to the China Pavilion" displayed on a big screen and presented with a panda doll and other cultural and creative souvenirs as commemorative gifts.
"My brother once worked in China and I often heard him talking about it, so I want to visit the China Pavilion to see what he said with my own eyes," said Yumi Asakawa.
The Asakawa family said they were honored to be the one millionth visitor to the China Pavilion and praised the pavilion's beautiful exterior design and rich exhibits.
Since its debut, the China Pavilion has seen a steady flow of visitors, reflecting its growing popularity and unique cultural appeal.
"The China pavilion has remained one of the most popular pavilions at the expo since its opening. Today (on Wednesday) we received our one-millionth guest, which, I think, is a memorable moment that worth celebration," said Zhang Shujing, director of the China Pavilion.
Visitors from around the world shared their impressions of the pavilion.
"We are from the Dominican Republic. It's very interesting. We like it," said a visitor.
Young visitors are captivated by the AI-enhanced model of Sun Wukong, or Monkey King, an iconic figure from Journey to the West, a Chinese classic novel from nearly 500 years ago. It can engage in interactive Q and A sessions with visitors in Chinese, Japanese, and English.
"The AI avatar of Sun Wukong (Monkey King) can answer questions from staff. This is really impressive," said a young Japanese visitor.
Themed on "Designing the Future Society of Our Lives," the World Expo 2025 is underway in Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, running from April 13 to Oct 13.
The China Pavilion, one of the largest foreign self-built pavilions, covers approximately 3,500 square meters. It presents traditional Chinese ecological wisdom and highlights the country’s green development concepts. It serves as a platform for promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between civilizations.
Visitors top 1 million at China Pavilion of Osaka Expo
Visitors top 1 million at China Pavilion of Osaka Expo
