Hundreds of thousands of local residents and tourists continue to visit the 2010 World Expo despite a scorching heat wave that has gripped the Chinese city of Shanghai.

The city has registered temperatures of over 40 degrees Centigrade (104F) over the past few days, forcing authorities to issue a red-level alert, the most serious on the Chinese four-color heat warning system.

Around 370,000 people visited the exhibition on Thursday and over 310,000 more visitors were counted on Friday morning.

The 2010 World Expo is being held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010. Up to 70 million people are expected to visit the city for the event, which has seen investment of up to $4 billion. Over 200 states, corporations and international organizations are taking part.

According to official data, the total number of visitors at the exhibition since the opening is approaching 40 million.

Russia constructed a pavilion at the exhibition for the first time in 30 years. The sun-shaped building comprises 12 white-and-gold towers symbolizing the 12 months of the year, and occupies an area of 6,000 square meters.

The Russian pavilion is considered one of the most popular and innovative at the Expo and attracts about 40,000 visitors every day, closing in on four million since May 1.

SHANGHAI, August 13 (RIA Novosti)