Written by: Cen Yi & Huang Yunzhi Pictures by Courtesy of Wang Zhihao & Huang Pu Newspaper

The relocation and resettlement work for the World Expo Shanghai could be said to be a really transparent‘sunshine’project, enabling about 18,000 families to be relocated to sign the relocation agreement, bid goodbye to their old dwellings and greet the upcoming World Expo light-heartedly. Today, we will cast limelight on the moving stories concerning the relocation of some residents in Pudong New Area, Huangpu District and Luwan District, showing how various walks of life and the relocated families cooperate with each other in this huge and onerous systemic project.

The signing of the relocation agreement against a happy backdrop

Community cadres play an important role in coordinating with the relocated residents. Cadres from the three blocks and 10 communities involved in the relocation work in the Pudong New Area have never thought to give up despite talking themselves hoarse in persuading the to-be-relocated families, with many of them carrying on their work after just taking a piece of mint candy or a cup of Pangdahai Lozenge in a bid to help the relocated residents get to know personally how their sweet and fresh life will be in the Expo Gardens.

Bidding goodbye to their old dwellings joyfully

Shanghai people are very familiar with the Zhoujiadu Wharf. In the late Qing Dynasty, a ship-owner surnamed Zhou set up a wharf in front of his home, which is the dock now located at the Shangnan Road, to transport passengers across the Huangpu River. That is how Zhoujiadu derived its name, but now, the 88-years-old Mr. Zhou Jingen, a descendent of the Zhou family, has to leave the old dwelling that has brought him abundant memories of the past.“Over one hundred years ago, my grandpa’s grandpa lived here to make a living by ferrying passengers across the river, and this old house has been standing here for about 130 years,”said Mr. Zhou. Despite the reminiscent and nostalgic memories and the sad feeling to say goodbye to one’s house, he was very adamant in supporting the World Expo. According to Zhu Min, a staff working for the relocation and resettlement, Mr. Zhou was among the first batch of families signing the relocation agreement.“To run the World Expo successfully is the key event for the country, and we certainly will support this. I am longing to come back to see how the place that my ancestors have lived in will look like when the construction of the World Expo completes,”said Zhou. Gracefully greeting for the World Expo

Mr. Xu Jinrong was among the first group of residents signing the relocation agreement on the first day in the Pudong New Area. Many people said it was silly of the first group of residents signing the agreement, as the first batch will surely suffer loss. But old-aged Xu shrugged and said“how could I suffer loss when I move into several two-bedroom suites instead of being crowed in an old house with an area of just 80 square meters?”Furthermore, he convinced three other families to sign the agreement, persuading them successfully to agree to move out. Looking forward to the future, Mr. Xu said excitedly that“we will come back to the place where we used to live in 2010 when the World Expo will be held, and I will feel very proud as I also make my own contribution to it! By being the first to sign the relocation and resettlement agreement I have shown my heartfelt support to the World Expo, which will make our country and our lives more beautiful.”