Small efforts behind the big expo

Ni Chunhua and his fellow worker paint handrails for the Nov 5 to 10 China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China. [Photo by Xing Yi / chinadaily.com.cn]

Painting handrails shiny new

Ni Chunhua, 45, handrail worker

Ni Chunhua and his fellow workers are more familiar with the countless handrails inside the enormous expo venue than anyone else.

The venue, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), will host the most important expo since it was built four years ago — the China International Import Expo — from Nov 5 to 10.

More than 3,000 foreign companies from over 130 countries and regions will present products, ranging from automobiles to consumer electronics and food, to domestic buyers and trade missions in the exhibition complex in Shanghai's west side.

"It's the biggest exhibition venue I've ever painted," Ni, 45, said of the site. "It's gigantic," he said.

Ni and some 60 workers have been painting the handrails of the 1.47-million-square-meter exhibition facility since the beginning of October to make sure every inch looks shiny and new.

"We will do our best," Ni said. "It's a big thing, and it's about the face of China."