Qinghai Province’s Expo 2010 team briefed seven of 22 bidders on its Expo pavilion design on January 22 in Qinghai Province.

Qinghai began to recruit bidders for its pavilion design earlier this year. Of the bidders, four were from Shanghai and two were from Beijing. Star Group Event Marketing, a Chinese branch of the US-based Star Group, also attended the briefing.

Lu Wensui, chairman of Nomura Shanghai Interior Design Corporation Limited, told reporters that he had worked in the province and he is bidding because of his affection for Qinghai rather than profit. Another bidder, Gu Wei, public relations director of DHA Media Corporation Limited, said this was the company's first visit to the province and the company regarded it as a unique place to promote environmental philosophies. The task to design Qinghai's pavilion will also be an ideal chance to demonstrate the company's ability.

Qinghai's theme for Expo 2010 is "China's Water Tower, Three Rivers' Origin." This province is on a plateau with an average elevation of 4,000 meters above sea level. The origins of China’s two longest rivers, the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, are in Qinghai. The Lancang River, which is known as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, also begins in Qinghai.

China has built a nature reserve for the protection of water resources. Experts said Qinghai’s Expo theme is an attempt to further preserve the rivers. The theme also creates a chance to showcase the connection between Qinghai’s urban and rural areas. The water theme has been praised by a panel of judges evaluating Expo participants’ plans due to its reflection on ecological security and the protection of water resources.