Little Mermaid statue

Danish Pavilion

Visitors expect the unveiling of the Little Mermaid statue.

Denmark's iconic Little Mermaid statue started her six-month stay in the Danish Pavilion yesterday when the pavilion was officially opened.

It is the first time the 1.5-meter-tall landmark has left Copenhagen Harbor since being erected in honor of author Hans Christian Andersen in 1913. It will stay at the Danish Pavilion until the end of October before returning home. The stones on which the Mermaid sits were also flown to Shanghai from Denmark.

A film about the Little Mermaid's trip to Shanghai will be screened at the pavilion and several mermaid concerts will also be staged.

Shanghai vice mayor Tu Guangshao said the arrival of the statue is a sign of friendship between the two people.

The pavilion called "Welfairytales" - a combination of the words welfare and fairy tales - is arranged like a fairy tale in three chapters: the story of Danish cities, the story of the Danish people and the story of Danish technology and solutions for future urban living.