Expo attendance hits 30 million mark

Visitors flock to the front of the Taiwan Pavilion waiting inside the Shanghai Expo Garden on July 21, 2010. As of 10:30 am on July 21, the number of visitors reached 30.25 million, according to the official website of Shanghai Expo. [Photo/Xinhua]

SHANGHAI - More than 30 million people have visited the World Expo Park in Shanghai since its official opening on May 1, organizers said on July 21.

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The number of Expo visitors broke the 30 million mark Wednesday morning, organizers said, adding that the number of visitor arrivals passed the 20 million mark on June 28 and the 10 million mark on June 5.

A new daily attendance record was set Saturday, when 557,200 people visited the Expo Park.

Shanghai has experienced some bad weather in July, including hot days and rainstorms. Organizers warned that the hot weather would continue and visitors should be careful not to suffer from heat stroke. To fight off the effects of the extreme heat, organizers have set up a large number of sun shades and mist spraying facilities and hand out free fans to visitors.

Also, the number of strolling vendors selling cold drinks in the park almost doubled from last month.

The Expo is expected to draw 70 million visitors by the time it closes on October 31.

The Expo, with a theme featuring "Better City, Better Life", has drawn the participation by an unprecedented 189 countries and 57 international organizations.