Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
228
floral displays of azaleas, roses, zinnias, chrysanthemums, petunias, and patches of wild-
flowers inspired by the Butchart Gardens just outside of Victoria, British Columbia.
The pavilion's highlight attraction is
O Canada!
—a dazzling (and recently updated)
18-minute, 360-degree CircleVision film that shows Canada's scenic splendor, from a
dogsled race to the thundering flight of thousands of snow geese departing an autumn
stopover near the St. Lawrence River to its modern cities and diverse people. If you're
looking for foot-tapping live entertainment,
Off Kilter
raises the roof with New Age
Celtic music as well as some get-down country music. Days and times vary.
Northwest Mercantile
carries sandstone and soapstone carvings, fringed leather vests,
duck decoys, moccasins, an array of stuffed animals, Native-American dolls, Native-
American spirit stones, rabbit-skin caps, heavy knitted sweaters, and, of course, maple
syrup.
China
Frommer's Rating:
A
Recommended Ages:
10-adult
Bounded by a serpentine wall that snakes around its perimeter, the China pavilion is
entered via a triple-arched ceremonial gate inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing,
a summer retreat for Chinese emperors. Passing through the gate, you'll see a half-size
replica of this ornately embellished red-and-gold circular temple, built in 1420 during
the Ming dynasty. Chinese tomb sculptures, similar to those recently unearthed near
Xian, China, were recently added. Gardens simulate those in Suzhou, with miniature
waterfalls, fragrant lotus ponds, and groves of bamboo, corkscrew willows, and weeping
mulberry trees.
Reflections of China
is a 20-minute movie that explores the culture and land-
scapes in and around seven Chinese cities. Shot during a 2-month period in 2002, it
visits Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and the Great Wall (begun 24 c. ago!), among other
places.
Land of Many Faces
is an exhibit that introduces China's ethnic peoples, and
entertainment is provided daily by the amazing
Dragon Legend Acrobats
.
The
Yong Feng Shangdian Shopping Gallery
features silk robes, lacquer and inlaid
mother-of-pearl furniture, jade figures, cloisonné vases, Yixing teapots, brocade pajamas,
silk rugs and embroideries, wind chimes, and Chinese clothing. Artisans occasionally
demonstrate calligraphy.
France
Frommer's Rating:
B
Recommended Ages:
8-adult
This pavilion focuses on La Belle Epoque, a period from 1870 to 1910 in which French
art, literature, and architecture flourished. It's entered via a replica of the beautiful cast-
iron Pont des Arts footbridge over the Seine. It leads to a park with bleached sycamores,
Bradford pear trees, flowering crape myrtle, and sculptured parterre flower gardens
inspired by Seurat's painting
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
A one-
tenth-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower constructed from Gustave Eiffel's original blue-
prints looms above
les grands boulevards.
The highlight is
Impressions de France.
Shown in a palatial sit-down theater a la
Fontainebleau, this 18-minute film is a scenic journey through diverse French landscapes
projected on a vast 200-degree wraparound screen and enhanced by the music of French
composers. The antics of
Serveur Amusant,
a comedic waiter, delight children and
adults, as do the yummy pastries at
Boulangerie Patisserie.
6
