Shanghai Expo has opened to public since May 1, 2010. It's estimated that over 70 million people are expected to visit the 2010 World Expo, which means that all eyes are on China in the coming few months. This year’s Expo is going to be the largest in history of the event.
What is the best way to go about buying tickets for this historic event? Though, there’s been an abundance of media coverage about the Expo, one aspect that has been less than clear is how to actually go about buying Expo tickets, especially as a non-Chinese speaker living in China or planning to visit from abroad.
In order to provide valuable informtion, we offer tips and clarity on how best to get hold of Expo 2010 tickets, both from within and outside of China.
Types of tickets:
Before purchasing Expo tickets, please be aware of the types of tickets available in order to ensure that you buy the ticket that best suits your needs. Tickets are generally divided into individual and group tickets. Individual tickets comprise of one day, three day or one week tickets, and these are further divided into peak and standard day tickets. Meanwhile, there are two types of group tickets; one with no less than 15 people and another ticket especially for students with no less than 30. A comprehensive table explaining the various types of Expo tickets and prices can be found here.
Sale dates:
Group tickets have been on sale since March 27th, 2009 and individual tickets went on sale on July 1st, 2009. Ticket sales have been allotted into phases; the final presale ticket phase for both individuals and groups is January 1st to April 30th. After the Expo starts, tickets will be available for purchase everyday throughout the event (May 1-Oct 31). Although 67 million tickets are available throughout the event, interested visitors are advised to book their tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment, as peak day tickets are already sold out and standard day tickets are selling fast.
How to Buy 2010 Expo Tickets from Within China:
China Mobile, China Telecom, Bank of Communications and China Post are the four officially designating 2010 Expo ticket selling agents within Mainland China. Below we systematically provide info on how to go about getting tickets from each agent.
