Shanghai Daily news

Icy cold Heilongjiang Province and warm and colorful Yunnan Province will be showcasing their urban achievements at the 2010 Expo, whose theme is "Better City, Better Life."

The two provinces recently submitted themes for their Expo exhibits; all mainland provinces will be showcased in a joint pavilion in the China Pavilion. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan will have separate pavilions.

Heilongjiang, one of the coldest provinces in the northeast, suggests "Ice and Snow Make Us Unique" and "Livability of a Cool City."

Yunnan's exhibit theme will be "Colorful Yunnan, Harmonious Urban and Rural Development."

The World Expo national tour stopped in Kunming, capital of Yunnan in January, and residents were enthusiastic. Yunnan hosted a Horticultural Exposition in 1999, a specialized World Expo.

It's a well-known tourist attraction, drawing those who long for nature, Shangri-La and minority culture. It has the highest concentration of ethnic minorities in China - a registered 52 among the total 56. Ethnic population is 30 percent of the total.

Heilongjiang, too, is famous for breathtaking winter scenery, sports and the annual Harbin Ice Sculpture Festival that draws tourists worldwide. The average annual temperature ranges from minus 5 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees.

The centerpiece of the Expo will be the China section, featuring the China Pavilion, known as "The Crown of the East."