The site of the World Expo 2010 is the biggest construction site in China and the biggest in Expo history. Its transformation into an international showcase is another feat of Chinese vision and determination.

Work is right on schedule.

In China of 2008, it's easy for the legendary old man to move a mountain, and more. EVERY day 10,000 workers are shaping the Expo site into a world stage where 200 participants will bring alive the Expo theme: "Better City, Better Life."

The 5.3-square-kilometer site once was dominated by highly polluting factories, belching smokestacks and poorly constructed residences for 18,000 families.

Now the families have been relocated into two new Expo Garden residential complexes. Around 270 companies have moved into modern new factories.

Old factories are being preserved and renovated as exhibition space. The great chimneys now add character, not smoke and greenhouse gas. Land has been cleared, buildings are going up. The Expo Village is almost completed. Some buildings in the Asia Zone are finished. Work is underway on the centerpiece,

China Pavilion and Expo Center.

Plots have been prepared for more than 40 countries that want to build their own pavilions.

The Expo site today is not only the biggest in 157 years of Expo history but also the biggest construction site in China, said Ding Hao, deputy director- general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

As China is the first developing country to host the World's Fair, the Chinese government is determined to make it the biggest and best ever, said Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

"All the construction of the 20 projects, including nearly 100 buildings, has been running smoothly," said Ding. "This is not to boost a reputation. The bigger site will allow Shanghai Expo to become a huge stage and not to miss any countries or international organizations that want to participate."

So far, 205 countries and international organizations have confirmed to participate.

The Expo will be environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Most of the pavilions will be torn down after the Expo period, though they will be built to high standards. Some are degradable, most have recyclable materials, some can be rebuilt elsewhere in China or overseas. Great old renovated factories will remain.

Five "green" structures will be permanent: the China Pavilion, Theme Pavilion, Expo Center, Performance Center and Expo Boulevard.

For construction workers, there's a lot of pressure to work fast and produce quality structures.

Zhang Zhongping, 49, is a worker from Nantong, Jiangsu Province, and pours concrete at the Expo Center. Construction began last June. More than 1,000 workers are involved.

The enormous structure will be 414 meters long and 99 meters wide. It needs 25,000 tons of steel - half the weight of the National Stadium in Beijing, the "Bird's Nest" built for the Olympic Games in August.

The Expo Center will contain the main hall for ceremonies, forums and international meetings, the operations center and media center.

"Though we have a tight schedule and a lot of pressure, I still remind myself that every detail in my work is important to the project, which is a showcase to the world," said Zhang.

Construction of the magnificent red China Pavilion began four months ago. Project Manager Xia Zhenghua says workers will hammer 5,000 foundation piles for the 63-meter-high structure. The deepest ones extend more than 60 meters underground and others 30 meters.

To accommodate the possible 400,000 to 500,000 daily visitors, all the five permanent structures have underground levels that are linked with each other.

The total underground area will be around 300,000 square meters.

The main entrance to the Expo site, the permanent Expo Boulevard, will have two lower levels where the future Metro Line 13 will be connected, ferrying about 50 percent of the visitors.

A semi-open above-ground shopping area will incorporate commercial, dining, entertainment and exhibition facilities.

The tasks are daunting but the construction workers are zealous. All the teams are vying to be the best and complete their projects ahead of schedule, said Xi Qunfeng, director of the project department of the Expo Bureau.

"We are pouring our passion and promises for the Expo into every brick of the work, and this is how we will complete the projects of excellent quality."

All the pavilions, including permanent ones and participants' exhibition halls, are supposed to be completed by the end of 2009. Trial operation of the Expo sites begins in January 2010. The six-month Expo starts May 1.