Expo to offer glimpse of the future

The upcoming Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition, also known as the Beijing Expo, will exhibit some of the world's most advanced technologies and latest gadgets, according to local officials.

The leading-edge technologies employed at the expo will include 5G technology, artificial intelligence and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, also known as ETFE, a type of high-strength industrial plastic that can be used for construction.

While not all visitors to the Beijing Expo are familiar with the term ETFE, the material has been used in many landmark buildings in Beijing, including the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center.

This lightweight fabric, which is less than 0.22 millimeters thick and with a light transmittance of 20 percent to 40 percent, gives building structures a translucent coat. It is also extremely flexible and can stretch up to 400 percent before losing its elasticity.

Now, ETFE plastic technology is employed in the Beijing Expo's performing arts center Guirui Theater.

Spanning 4,500 square meters, the center will stage nearly 2,500 events during the expo, including opening and closing ceremonies.

The center looks like a butterfly when viewed from above and its curved wings are made out of ETFE in six colors - crimson, dark green, orange, blue, red and green.

Liu Changbao, director of the performing arts center construction program, said that unlike the previous cases, the bright-colored skin of the center will not fade in the sun, rain or wind over time.

When the exhibit opens, the fifth generation of cellular technology, or 5G, will be available throughout all exhibition halls and some areas nearby.

Guo Ziliang, deputy director of the information department of the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau, said, "it is the first time for us to apply the latest technology and we want visitors to enjoy the convenience built on technologies."

In the 5G exhibition hall, visitors will be able to watch 8,000-pixel high-definition videos and learn about progress in self-driving vehicle technology, telemedicine, drone logistics and transportation, and other 5G network applications.

Visitors will also be able to download entire films in less than a second and play games streamed with minimal delay on their smartphones, enabled by 5G terminals.

Robots will serve at major pavilions, offering visitors information about the event, make coffee and do the cleaning.

"A robot barista can make one cup of coffee in just two minutes so that customers don't have to wait long," Guo said.

There will also be a fabulous virtual reality show taking place during the exhibition. It is inspired by Shanhaijing, or The Classic of Mountains and Seas, a Chinese fable focusing on geography and myths.

As night falls, visitors will find themselves in a different world of fantasy and be able to interact with mythical flowers and animals in the fable, which appear to come to life and move around the exhibition halls, with the aid of the latest technologies, including augmented reality.

"One of the highlights of the exhibition, the show will immerse people in a virtual world," Guo said. "It will be played automatically from 7 pm to 9 pm in the natural ecological exhibition area near Gate Five."

"The Beijing Expo will show the world our nation's latest achievements in technological innovation and key trends over the years," Guo added.