The number of visitors of the Russian Expo-2010 pavilion in Shanghai reached 3 million on Wednesday.

Liu Pei, a 45-year-old bank employee from Lanzhou, Gansu province, became the 3 millionth visitor of the pavilion.

Liu Pei was not expecting the applause and shower of gifts that met her at the entrance to the pavilion after she had lined up for two hours.

“It’s a great honor for me to be the 3 millionth visitor to the Russian pavilion. I felt like a celebrity when I saw the TV cameras,” she said.

Liu Pei said it was her first ever trip to Shanghai and that she had come specifically for Expo-2010.

“Russians are a smart and great nation,” she said. “This is one of the biggest and most prominent pavilions.”

Liu Pei said she had great respect for Russia as her parents had told her as a child about the importance of Moscow’s help during the Chinese economic revival in the 1950s.

The 2010 Shanghai World Expo is being held from May 1 to October 31, 2010. More than 200 countries, regions, international organizations and big companies are taking part in the event.

SHANGHAI, July 21 (RIA Novosti)