In preparation for the upcoming 2010 World Expo in Shangai, China, event organizers have unveiled the official mascot named Haibao or “treasure of the world” when translated to the English word.

Integrating tradition and modern concepts, Haibao takes the form of the Chinese character REN ? to resemble a human being. As the official mascot, Haibao will represent the Expo as a prestigious platform for cultural exchange.

This cute and curly-haired mascot is colored blue to symbolize water, sea, earth, life, dreams, the future and technology. Organizers hope this will further support the event’s theme and tagline “Better city, better life”.

The design team leader characterizes Haibao as a happy, naive, confident and lovely child. It was selected from about 27,000 entries submitted from 21 countries around the globe.

There are several factors considered for choosing the appropriate mascot design. One, it should reflect the culture of the host country, China, and must adhere to Chinese laws and social norms. Additionally, it should be easy to understand, remember, and use in different licensed products including stationeries and souvenirs.

via Beijing 2008