2008 was the year when the world’s eye was fixed on Beijing. The year 2010 will be Shanghai's turn. From May 1st to October 31st 2010, Expo 2010 (simplified Chinese: 2010上海世界博览会) will be held in Shanghai, China. This is the first Expo to be held in a developing country and an estimated 70 million visitors will visit Shanghai for the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Covering a total area of 5.28 square kilometers and involving over 242 participants, the World Expo, with its 150 year history, is considered one of the world’s top events just after the Olympic Games and the World Cup. Past Expos have left iconic landmarks in their wake, such as the Eiffel Tower or Space Needle in Seattle. China is certainly not one to do a lackluster job, and with the recent sensational success of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, one can only wait with great anticipation for the wonders of China's first ever Expo to be unveiled. Since winning the bid to host the Expo in 2002, approximately 28.6 billion yuan ($4.17 billion USD) have been invested in the event, with life in Shanghai acutely geared to hosting one of the biggest events the world has ever seen.