Pavilions, will you stay or will you go?

US pavilion

Managed by a tourism development investment company, the structure will be rebuilt on Saadiyat Island - also known as Cultural Island - in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.

"It will serve as a cultural and social center and a reminder of UAE's participation at the world's largest exhibition, Expo 2010 Shanghai," said Vine.

France expressed its wish as early as 2007 to have its pavilion remain in China permanently.

"We are discussing the issue with the central government in Beijing and the Shanghai government," said Thierry Mathou, consul general for France in Shanghai.

The Thailand pavilion may be moved to Wuxi in Jiangsu province after Expo and become the centerpiece of a Buddhist cultural park. The move is pending approval from the Shanghai government.

Decorated with 8,524 wicker panels in brown, beige and black, the Spain pavilion is waiting for its fate to be decided. Two plans are under consideration by its pavilion operators. After Expo, it will either remain in China or be dismantled and recycled.

Aritz Parra, press officer for the Spain pavilion, said Expo organizers have hinted that a competition will be held and the most popular pavilion will be retained after the Expo.

"If the plan is approved, it will be our honor to have our pavilion remain in China," said Parra.

Either way, not all pavilions will remain in China after Expo. The German commissioner general of Expo, Dietmar Schmitz, said the country's pavilion will be dismantled after the event.

The only chance for visitors see the pavilion will be during the six months of Expo.

Marion Conrady, press officer with the German pavilion, said the steel structure will be dismantled and sold.

However, the interactive sphere in one section of the pavilion will be shipped back to Germany. The 400,000 LED lights used for the pavilion were rented, so they will be handed back after Expo, while the textile-membrane faade will be recycled.

With its use of biodegradable materials, the Swiss pavilion was designed not to last beyond Expo. But a Swiss official said special lights, which are triggered by the flash from cameras, could be sold as souvenirs.