Over twenty million people have visited the Bulgarian pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, which was closed on the last day of October.

The data was reported by the organizer of the Bulgarian participation – the Plovdiv Fair.

The highest-ranking visitor has been EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, who has been impressed by the Thracian treasure and the house in the traditional Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style.

The 2010 expo in Shanghai, China entitled "Better Life, Better City" took place between May 1 and October 31, 2010 with participants from over 200 countries.

The Bulgarian pavilion was surrounded by much controversy and scandal.

It was close to being shut in April-May 2010 when Finance Minister Simeon Djankov refused to grant additional BGN 2.5 M arguing that the BGN 2.2 M already spent were not used in a transparent way.

Bulgaria's324 sq. m.pavilion, focused on the link between the present and the past, Bulgaria's cultural and historical heritage and present-day way of life. The building was shared by several countries. Scarce pictures from the Bulgarian participation show and eyewitnesses say the Bulgarian pavilion and display were nondescript and plain compared to others, even from the Balkan region.