A pavilion like a box made up of thousands of spines hovers without visible support above a plaza. As the wind blows, the translucent spines undulate gently like summer hay. It is a far cry from the stuffy image of the British that many Chinese people have been brought up with.

"The theme of the Shanghai Expo is 'Better City, Better Life.' This inspired British designer Thomas Heatherwick to use the UK's expertise in urban planning to create a unique, open space, in which people can relax in one of the world's busiest urban spaces," said Katherine Dixon, spokeswoman of the Britain Pavilion.

Katherine Dixon, spokeswoman of the Britain Pavilion [Wu Nanlan/China.org.cn]

At the center of the space is the Seed Cathedral – 20 meters high and made of 60,000 7.5 meter transparent rods – each containing seeds from London's famed Kew Gardens and China's Kunming Institute of Botany.

Inside the Seed Cathedral [Wu Nanlan/China.org.cn]

During the day, the "spines" draw daylight inwards to illuminate the interior. At night, light sources inside the rods cause the whole structure to glow.

"The pavilion design aims to highlight modern British innovation and cutting-edge design while highlighting the essential link between humans and nature," Dixon said.

A major program of business events has been organized, as well as a program of cultural and education activities that extend over the full 184 days of the Expo.

There will be street-theatre-style entertainment around the pavilion, as well as installations with the theme "nature and the city," drawing attention to the tradition of green spaces in the UK's cities.

Seventy million people are expected to visit Shanghai Expo, which opened to the public on 1 May for six months.

UK Pavilion [Wu Nanlan/China.org.cn]