Shanghai World Expo

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A Buddhist monk watches fireworks during the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo on April 30, 2010. (Reuters/Aly Song) Reuters

Visitors celebrate with a banner that reads "World Expo Opens!". (AP/Keystone) Keystone

Need a lift? The Swiss pavilion features a "ski lift" that whisks visitors to the top of the building, where they'll find a green meadow but no cows. swissinfo.ch

Migrant construction workers paint a part of the pavilion in January. (Reuters/Nir Elias) Reuters

Visitors take pictures at the Swiss structure on opening day. The red dots are hundreds of lights. (AP//Eugene Hoshiko) Keystone

People walk outside the Swiss pavilion under construction ahead of the official roofing ceremony in October, 2009. (AP Photo) Keystone

Night falls on the pavilion. swissinfo.ch

A worker prepares the track for the ski lift. swissinfo.ch

Volunteers at the Expo watch the fireworks light the sky during the opening ceremony. (Reuters/Michel Euler/Pool) Reuters

Migrant construction workers spread cement on January 20, 2010. (Reuters/Nir Elias) Reuters

Looking through the sleek curves and intricate lighting. swissinfo.ch

People queue to enter the Swiss pavilion on opening day. The expo lasts for six months and is expected to attract almost 70 million people. (epa/Diego Azubel) Keystone

A migrant construction worker paints the exterior in January. (Reuters/Nir Elias) Reuters

Small LED lights at the Swiss pavilion hang before a hazy sun in Shanghai. swissinfo.ch

An exterior shot shows just how many lights dangle from the building. swissinfo.ch

An aerial view shows the "mountains" and green grass on the roof, serviced by a ski lift. (AP Photo/Shanghai Pacific Institute for International Strategy) Keystone

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A virtual trip to the Swiss pavilion in China, complete with a ski lift.

The World Expo in Shanghai is officially underway, with the Swiss exhibition attracting large crowds wanting to ride a ski lift to “mountains” and “meadows” installed on the roof. Blaise Godet, Switzerland’s ambassador to China, says the Swiss have a real advantage in that Switzerland is beautiful. But the pavilion hopes to go beyond the clichés. “People will see straight away that there’s more than just Heidi,” Godet says. “There’s also high tech.”