Yingkai is an Expo Enthusiast from the younger generation who lives in China. Yingkai has actually never attended an official BIE World Expo but several times did visit the 2014 World Horticultural Expo in Qinqdao, China when he was in primary school. He did also visit the site of the 2019 Beijing Horticultural Expo one year after it ended.
In his twenties and an architecture student we can understand his love of all things Expo! Expos always have pavilions each trying to outdo each other with their futurist designs or sometimes their honor to the simplicity of design as well. Walking from pavilion to pavilion you become enthralled by the imagination of the designers and the plans they succeeded in bringing to life.
Yingkai’s favorite would be the 1964-65 New York World's Fair (not officially BIE recognized). That was where he started learning about Expos. Although he was not able to visit the fair in person (since he was not born yet!) he was astonished about the engineering achievements that were on display. Pavilions like the Kodak Moonroof and the cantilevered Bell System Building can be considered remarkable feats of engineering even to this day. What especially touched him were the memories shared by people who visited the fair. From their stories that he read online, he started to realize the lasting impact and memories that a World Expo can bring to its visitors.
His favorite part of an Expo would be the architecture of the pavilions, of course it is, he’s an architecture student! The bold vision conceived by pavilion architects not only showcases the latest technological solutions but also expresses the cultural diversity of participating nations. Apart from architecture, he also thinks that a World Expo is a place that would flip his worldview. It provides an opportunity to get to know more about the world, its people and their diverse cultures. An authentic experience from a country you are not familiar with is also what he likes about a World Expo.
On his visits to the 2014 Horticultural Expo, it was the first time that he saw authentic vernacular buildings from another country (at least they appeared authentic to him at that time). It all started with the first sight of that windmill of the Netherlands Pavilion, then a Japanese teahouse, and then a Thai temple... Although there weren't as many participants as a World Expo, the diversity gave him a feeling that he could see the world in one place. And it was amazing. At the Swedish Pavilion, there was an exhibition of ice sculptures at the basement level with cool temperature and wonderful artworks. It was definitely a pleasant surprise after walking for hours in the middle of a hot summer.
Even though he has not attended a World Expo (yet!) he does like to collect Expo maps and Guidebooks as well as pins from the participating countries. His favorite and most current is a Guidebook form Expo 2020 in Dubai that a friend mailed to him. One day he hopes to see in person and in a guidebook the representation of the pavilion he will design for his home country of China in the future! We hope his dreams come true and can’t wait to see it Yingkai!
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