Preface（Ⅲ）

In Oct. 2010, Mr. Wang Zhijun created and published World Expo Poems, with the concept of World Expo Shanghai 2010. The collected poems contain 378 pieces of work, Show all kinds of world architecture, unique and great creative exhibition, colorful performances and characteristic urbanian pavilions, as the history record of Shanghai Expo with a notable style. I recommended at the press conference, that the poems be translated in English and French, helping friends from all over the world know Shanghai Expo and Chinese culture more and better. I can’t believe this little proposal became true so quickly. Reading the English poems, we can return the magnificent scene during World Expo. I appreciate Mr. Zhijun and his team for their tireless efforts. And I sincerely congratulate the publishing of English version.

Mr. Zhijun, deputy secretary-general and chief of experts’team for“Expo China, Cherishing Life and Sharing Sunshine Committee”, has made troublesome and creative efforts for the Life and Sunshine Pavilion. As the first pavilion for disabled people, the construction of the Life and Sunshine Pavilion has not any experience. Mr. Zhijun and his team of Shanghai Federation of the disabled realize it with practical and sustaining efforts, with unselfish and sharing spirit, which got visitors interested and also got silver award from the International Exhibition Bureau. More importantly, the Life and Sunshine Pavilion gave the most ictus to the whole society, to respect and love the disabled, strongly and vividly.

Mr. Zhijun was born in Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, whose spirituality is nourished along the ancient Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties. He is penetrated with inherent state feelings of scholar-bureaucrat, and with romantic poet feelings. During the Shanghai World Expo, he carefully experienced every pavilion, enthusiastically considered every show, and made plenty of creative poems to express his pride and gratefulness.

My special thanks go to Professor Zhang Jian of the Beijing Foreign Studies University, for his outstanding contribution to the English poems, as an expert of English and American poetry. It’s very hard to understand and translate classical Chinese poetry to English. Not only the meaning he would properly express, but also the rhyme and charm of these poems. For example, here is China Pavilion:

With curling eaves and arches China Pavilion stands,

All of the cinnabar color, fire-red like dawn clouds.

Upright in the east, she embraces the four oceans;

Towering in the world, she grows like an exotic flower.

The crown top like a barn holds the world’s wealth;

The reforms and opening-ups are realized at last.

Song-Dynasty scroll spreads out in animated cartoon;

The thousand-year willow tree bursts out in new buds.

This poetry is full of vigor, but to interpret the conception is just quite difficult. We would be deeply impressed with the English edition, with the perfect conception and flavor.

I believe the publishing of the English version of World Expo Poems would bring colorful charm of Shanghai expo, force of Chinese culture, and the enthusiasm of Chinese people to friends all over the world, through the beautiful poems.

This will function as a foreword.

National Committee of the CPPCC Standing Committee
Vice Chairman of CPPCC Shanghai
Deputy Director of the Expo 2010 Executive Committee
Zhou Hanmin
In Shanghai, May, 2012