ROME - For Francesca Cusumano, a Rome-based communication expert, visiting the Shanghai Expo was a unique experience, and what impressed her most was the enthusiasm displayed by Chinese visitors during the 6-month event.
"I will always remember the atmosphere of enthusiasm of the Chinese people, their interest and curiosity in discovering the pavilions of the other countries and passion in seeing the many things exposed," Francesca, who helped set up a modern architecture exhibition in the Italian pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, told Xinhua in an interview on Monday.
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She believed the leading theme of the expo, "Better City, Better Life," was majestically represented by all participants. "The public was very much involved in the topic," helping to spread a greater awareness on such important issues as environmental sustainability and urban well-being.
Visitors gave positive feedbacks to the dynamic and stimulating Shanghai World Expo, as it attracted them with the notion of quality of life, according to Francesca, who described Shanghai as "an incredible, modern city that has left me in awe, full of lights, color and life."
She said Shanghai has been transformed into "the futurist, new face of China."
Francesca also praised the logistics of the World Expo, the scenery and choreography of the pavilions, saying she was impressed by "the perfect organizational skills of the Chinese, by what the Chinese were able to create. Everything followed a stable order and tidiness."
"The expo site, but also the whole of Shanghai, was clean. No rubbish, no dirt, I was not expecting the city to be so shiny," she said.
Francesca said her favorite pavilion was the British one. "I loved the enormous sea-urchin shape sculpture, I found it very symbolic."
She had the chance as well to witness the incredible appeal of the Italian pavilion at the expo.
"Visitors paid homage to it and were fascinated by the very best of the Made in Italy showcased there."
