Americans head to Shanghai Expo

SHANGHAI - Stephen Brown has "always been fascinated with the idea of a world's fair." Mary Schnack is a businesswoman hoping to make connections in Shanghai. Brian Greenberg has long dreamed of visiting China.

They're among thousands of Americans heading to the Shanghai Expo, which opened last weekend for a six-month run. Nearly 200 countries and dozens of corporations are participating, with pavilions and exhibits showcasing culture, tourism, technology and a theme of environmentally sustainable cities.

The Expo has not received a lot of publicity in the U.S. Seventy million visitors are expected to attend in all, but only 3 million to 5 million will be foreigners. Still, Americans who do plan to attend have great expectations and often very personal reasons for going.