France has hosted more World Expos than any other nation, and fittingly was the first overseas country to confirm its participation in the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The budget set aside for the pavilion, some €50m, was also among the highest. Pavilion director Franck Serrano has described it as a gift to China akin to France's gift of the Statue of Liberty to the United States.

Known as "the Sensual City", the lattice-work structure (the design of which was chosen from a competition among 47 different architects) seeks to showcase the sights, smells, and sounds of France. The highlight is perhaps the sights; with important artwork from the Musee D'Orsay collection shipped over for the event: look out for Vincent Van Gogh's The Dance Hall in Arles, Jean-Francois Millet's The Angelus, and Edouard Manet's The Balcony, as well as work by Cezanne, Rodin and Gaugin, among others.

Like many of the pavilions, it has been built using the most advanced materials and environmental protection technology. Much has also been done to incorporate Chinese elements into the design, with a south-facing door in keeping with Chinese tradition, and a viewing platform perpendicular to the surrounding water surface, derived from the classic Beijing courtyard siheyuan. A "French Pavilion" perfume has even been concoted, using Shanghai's city flower, the white magnolia.

Among other special aspects of the pavilion, is the opportunity it offers for grand wedding ceremonies; with more than 2,000 couples expected to tie the knot inside the classical French-style gardens.

More on the French Pavilion from Chinatravel:

Spotlight on the French Pavilion

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