2010: a performance-space odyssey

One of just four expo buildings to become a permanent fixture of Shanghai's landscape after the six-month event comes to a close next year, the futuristic Expo Performance Center will serve as a grand structure set to symbolize the city's forward-thinking as it pushes ahead in the world of art culture.

Dubbed the Flying Saucer because of its sci-fi look, one of the 2010 Expo's most significant buildings will mark the first indoor venue of its kind in China, featuring modern technologies like convertible seats and accommodating crowds of up to 18,000.

With a staggering cost of 1.1 billion yuan, the Expo Performance Center will host high-profile shows and performances during the 184-day mega-event.