Shanghai Expo 2010

Client: Shanghai EXPO

This is a massive online program commissioned by the Shanghai EXPO bureau to run in tandem with Expo 2010 Shanghai, which officially opened in China in May 2010.

We have created an entire digital expo so that up to 100 million internet and mobile users around the world can virtually visit Expo 2010 Shanghai. An online event of this magnitude has never before been produced on this scale. We developed thirty complete digital pavilions of the 300 that made up the entire virtual environment – plus characters, detailed landscape and the animated mascot.

Visitors to the virtual expo can tour the whole Expo site –walk through the 3D grounds, explore replicas of pavilions representing 300 countries, enjoy real-time chat in a virtual meeting place and even leave their own blog entry.

The site attracted almost 9 million unique visitors from around the world in the opening week of the event in May and in the few months leading up to it. Since opening the virtual expo welcomes an average 51,000 visits each day – from countries in every corner of the world that include Australia, USA, Taiwan, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Singapore and the UK.

As well as the online platform we produced all the interactive multimedia, plus innovative digital displays for the actual event in Shanghai. In conjunction with leading Chinese mobile phone operator Unicom, we also developed an iPhone app that Chinese residents can use as their visitor guide at the real-life expo, or visit the expo off-site with their Apple iPhone. The project took two years to develop and was produced by our specialist team of 100 designers and technicians.

Highly immersive online events such as this are a major advance in how to engage with a social media-savvy, global audience. Crystal CG is delighted to be involved in this ground-breaking project that will enhance the public's experience and actively engage those that are unable to travel to Shanghai for the live event.

Visit the virtual 2010 Shanghai Expo.