The fireworks performance at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony showed the nation's creativity and mastery in presenting a spectacular celebration, agreed viewers worldwide. The opening ceremony for the Expo 2010 Shanghai has the same expectations and on April 30 a fireworks display will again light up the night.

A rehearsal of the opening ceremony, held on April 27, revealed that the opening ceremony of Expo 2010 Shanghai will have a 30-minute fireworks display staged along the Huangpu River between Nanpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge.

The official viewing point for the fireworks show for the VIP audience is at the shell-shaped Cultural Center. Other invited attendees will be seated in the Binjiang green land at the Bailianjing Park, east of the Expo Garden.

However, because of the limited number of invitations and restrictions of access to the performance area, those who are not invited to these areas will have to find other places to watch the show.

High-rise apartment buildings near the Expo Garden might be the first choice for those who are eager to look at the fireworks and some media are already garrisoned in the building where Zhu Hongyi lives near Yaohua Road.

"I can see the China pavilion and Cultural Center from the window of our corridor," said Zhu, who previewed the fireworks rehearsal on Tuesday from his home.

"Some of the rooms here have been rented to TV stations and some other people pretended they were residents to see the Expo Garden from up here," said Zhu, who lives on the 11th floor. "But it will not be easy, since the building now has a security guard."

Early reports said the performance area, including both riversides and the two bridges, will be blocked to non-residents during the ceremony, along with the tall buildings nearby.

In places a little farther and accessible to the public, the Bund, although a famous touring site, may not be the best viewpoint as buildings block the sight. However, Binjiang Avenue across the river may allow a view of fireworks shot high into the night.

Skyscrapers in the Lujiazui financial zone would be another perfect viewpoint for those who want a luxurious experience on the night of the opening ceremony.

"The rooms beneath the 87th floor are fully booked for April 30," said Jonnie Huang from the Park Hyatt Hotel in the 492-meter World Financial Center. "But the restaurant on the 91st floor, where you can have a perfect view of the Expo site, is still accepting bookings."

Similar "high-end" viewing points are the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the 421-meter Jinmao Tower and the JW Marriott Hotel in the 282-meter Tomorrow Square near People's Square.

Weather forecasts have predicted a warm and clear night.

By Wei Tian

Editor: Liu Fang