Sardinia has secret to long life

SHANGHAI - The Italy Pavilion welcomed Sardinia as the eighth region to take part in its rotating showcase from Aug 24 to 29 by extending the pavilion's theme "City of Man" to include exhibits focusing on quality of life.

Dancers from the Group of Cagliari in traditional Sardinian costumes perform at the Italy Pavilion in the Expo Garden on Aug 24. [Provided to China Daily]

Sardinia, home to the second longest life expectancy in the world, arrived at Expo 2010 Shanghai on Tuesday with its recipe for the "Quintessence of Life".

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"Hopefully the exhibition could lead tourists to experience and feel the unique beauty, wildness and romance of this intriguing island," said Giuliano Uras, the deputy minister for regional environment and tourism of Sardinia.

Stepping into the Sardinia exhibition room, visitors would find they had dived into the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea. While the island has many positive qualities, topping the list is the island's unspoiled nature, which promises a high-quality lifestyle, relaxed pace and inner peace.

Chinese guests were invited to experience Sardinia's best traditional food, wine and folklore by kicking off a spectacular journey through the region that lasted all Tuesday evening. Guests were offered tastes of typical Sardinian dishes such as porceddu (roast suckling pig) or mallureddus alla campidanses (handmade Sardinian gnocchetti), as well as to enjoy a traditional folk music performance.

Folk group Villanova from the city of Cagliari set the rhythm of the night, while the masked performers of Mamuthones and Issohadores infused the pavilion with wonder.

Mamuthones and Issohadores are typical Sardinian masks worn during performances at the Mamuthones festival that traditionally takes place in the small Sardinian town of Mamoiada. The Mamuthones trudge along slowly, bent under the weight of their cowbells, while the Issohadores take light, agile steps; together creating an extraordinary tempo.

After the dinner, guests were invited to attend a fashion show in the pavilion's glamorous "Joy of Living" square - truly the best place to showcase the Italian way of life.

Speaking to the increasing popularity of Sardinia among Chinese holiday makers, the "Rose Wedding" was held on Wednesday, where Chinese married couples who spent their honeymoons in Sardinia shared stories and danced at a romantic Sardinian ball to relive their wonderful experiences all over again. One couple also had the honor of reaffirming their vows in the presence of Beniamino Quintieri, the commissioner general of the Italy Pavilion.

Following the inauguration of the exhibition and special activities, visitors were entertained with a host of activities ranging from a fashion show, musical performances, a presentation on Polaris of Sardinia's cutting-edge Science and Technology Park and a wine tasting.

Sardinia presented itself as a paradise with 24,000 sq km of forests, endless white sand beaches, dizzyingly high cliffs, sheltered coves and intense aromas. Visitors were attracted not only by the famous beaches of the main island - Costa Smeralda and Costa Verde - but also by many smaller pearls in the Mediterranean, like the archipelago of the Maddalena, magnificent species of fauna, such as the pink flamingo, the Mediterranean monk seal, Caretta Caretta turtles, the ponies of Giara and the Anglo-Arabian horse, populate this wild and charming landscape.