Designing Concept

Like the mascots for huge worldwide events such as Olympics and World Cup, the mascot of World Expo is very important for interpreting the theme and expressing the culture. The emblems and images of past World Expos have turned into the unique intangible legacy. The World Expo mascots have not only become the representatives of Expo images, but also embody the culture and spirit of hosting countries and cities.

Mascot, as the symbol featuring the hosting country, will embody the history, development, culture, concept and social background of the country and will play an important role in the communication in political, economical and cultural fields.

The mascot of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is trying to accomplish the following functions:

1. To embody the culture of the hosting country

World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is a global event that is hosted by China and undertaken by the city of Shanghai. It is the first time that a developing country will host a registered World Expo. The design of Shanghai Expo mascot must have Chinese cultural characters, state the Chinese cultural sprit and manifest that Shanghai Expo is a platform for worldwide cultural exchange. Meanwhile, the design must accord with Chinese laws and social conventions.

2. To interpret the theme "Better City, Better Life"

The mascot of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China should become the unique visual logo of theme development and should be different from the existing mascot images of previous World Expos and international events in theme manifestation and designing.

The image of mascot should well express the theme of Shanghai Expo "Better City, Better Life" by using innovative ideas, impressive appearance and motions to state its concept and characters. By exploring the relationship among cities, urban dwellers and planet, the mascot must express the inner relation between heritage and future. The designing concept should be clear and unique, which coincide with the theme and easy for the public to undertand.

3. To have the value of re-creation

The mascot of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China should meet the principle of "good looking, easy to understand, easy to remember and easy to use." It should also be suitable for the creation of licensed products, including stationeries, garment, souvenirs and jewelries. The mascot should be easy to be re-created in graphic, solid or electronic media.

Main Character
Created from the Chinese character which means people, the mascot embodies the character of Chinese culture and echoes with the designing concept of the emblem of World Expo Shanghai. Using the Chinese character as the mascot of an international event is an innovation.

Hair: the hair of the mascot is like the wave of the sea, which represents its open character and stated the character of its birth place Shanghai.

Face: its cartoon expression shows its confidence and friendly character.

Eye: big, round eyes show his anticipation of the city.

Blue: the color shows its latitude and imagination, which represents the rising and potential China.

Body: its round body represents a well-off life, which is also lovely and cute.

Fist: he thumbs up to show the appreciation and warm welcome to the friends from all over the world.

Big feet: he stands steadily on the big feet and embraces the world with big arms, which shows China have the ability and faith to host a successful Expo.

The structure of Chinese character , in which two strokes support each other, manifests the concept that a good life should be created by all the people. The world should be supported by "people," and people should have harmonious relationships with nature and society, so that the life in cities would be better.

The mascot will surly become the lucky symbol and cultural remark of Shanghai Expo.

Meaning of Haibao

The name of the mascot of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is Hai Bao, which means the treasure of the sea. The name of Hai Bao is easy to remember, echoes with the color of its body and is a typical lucky name in Chinese tradition.

Hai Bao is the good well ambassador of Shanghai Expo. He is embracing friends from all over the world with his arms and confident smile.

Theme Manifestation

Cities is formed by the assembly of human beings and then evolved into an organized system, in which people are the most active and creative cells. People's life and development of the cities are closely related. With the rapid process of urbanization, the interaction between cities and the biological circle as well as the resources on the earth have become more and more strong. The relationship among people, city and earth runs through the urbanization. The three will become an inseparable complex.

People are the cells as well as the spirit of cities. People give the cities their cultures, characters and uniqueness. With the urbanization, more are more people become urban dwellers. People's life is inevitably affected by the development of cities. Cities should create a good living and innovation environment for people.

The structure and network of different cities have common views as well as their uniqueness. To understand the system and development of cities and construct a sustainable, healthy city structure is the precondition of building a livable city. It relies on people's understanding of city's developing rules as well as the rational activities in daily life.

Human being, creator of good life, is the core to push the city development as well as the most creative part in the urbanization; hence, the designing of the mascot chose the Chinese character of people to be the main image. The blue color mascot represents the elements including earth, dream, sea, future, technology and manifests the theme of World Expo "Better City, Better Life."

The image of the mascot is simple, easy to remember and to communicate. Though it is a single mascot, with the different motions and costumes, it could also have various appearances.

Water is the source of life. The main character of the mascot is water. The blue color stated Chinese brand-new gesture to embrace the world.

Hai Bao embodies ideal of the coexistence of different cultures in cities; embodies the appreciation of economic development and environmental sustainable development; embodies the wish to remodel the city communities, embodies the anticipation of the well-off both urban cities and countrysides. Hai Bao is the whish to colorful life and the warm invitation to friends from all over the world to Shanghai.