Mexico Pavilion: Flying high above Mayan ruins

Visitors will weave their way through a colorful forest of kites and an underground tour to learn about Mexico's past, present and future at its pavilion that opens at the expo in May.

Emphasizing the country's long-term relationship with China by using kites as a symbol, a collection of 135 kites in shades of red, yellow, orange, purple and white will decorate the rooftop of Kites Square, the pavilion's outdoor area covering 4,000 sq m.

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Kites, which originated from China, are said to have been delivered to ancient Mexico thousands of years ago by traders from Asia.

The traditional toy for children also symbolizes the freedom and development of Mexican society.

"Equally importantly, kites symbolize the connection between Mexican and Chinese cultures," said Seldner Eduardo, commissioner-general of the Mexico pavilion.

The grass-floored square will also serve to represent the promise of Mexico's future.

Here, the kites will be planted and raised by poles reaching heights of 3-13 m.

When viewed from afar, the display is meant to depict a crowd of people flying kites. Constructed with eco-friendly plastics, this area will also place an emphasis on the country's developments in urban living by presenting sustainable solutions designed to meet its rising urban challenges.

The rest of the structure will be underground, making this the pavilion with the largest subterranean component.

Here, visitors will learn about the country's past and present. The past will be shown on three giant screens and will detail the lives of the Mexican people, spanning the pre-Hispanic period, the colonial era and the 19th century. Old Mayan relics will be the main feature on display.