Madrid decorates Christmas with a magic Expo touch

The city of Madrid, Spain, is already glowing with Christmas lights blending a strong Expo 2010 flavor.

A huge eye-catching Christmas in Plaza de Espa?a has been spruced up with lighting logos representing Madrid's Expo 2010 contribution - Bamboo House and Air Tree - plus next year's Expo logo.[expo2010.cn]

A huge eye-catching Christmas in Plaza de Espa?a of the Spanish capital has been spruced up with lighting logos representing Madrid's Expo 2010 contribution - Bamboo House and Air Tree - plus next year's Expo logo.

Special coverage: World Expo 2010 Related readings:  Shanghai Expo kicks off staff training  Canadian PM reveals Canada Pavilion for Expo 2010  Brazil promises large participation at Expo  Hainan woos visitors with

The streets of Madrid have used 7.5 million light bulbs to celebrate this year's Christmas, some 700,000 more than last year. About 99.5 percent of the lights are energy-efficient with less pollution.

Madrid Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo's Urban Best Practices Area will showcase a bamboo house and an artificial tree that can control climate conditions.

The pavilion will be a five-story residential building covered in bamboo to filter sunshine, heat and sound, similar to its progressive social housing project south of the city.