Visitors to the 2010 World Expo will be able to tell what continent an exhibition hall represents by the color of its sun shelter.

The idea was picked up by Expo organizers after it was submitted by a member of the public.

Research on the proposal has started and the design is likely to turn into reality, according to Wu Zhiqiang, the chief designer of the Expo.

"We can imagine how magnificent it will be to have a birds-eye view of the colorful sun shelter," he said.

The Shanghai Expo will have the longest sun shelter - four kilometers -in the history of the event. The Expo begins in May 2010 when the rainy season hits the city, followed by the heat of summer. A college student proposed the sun shelter to help avoid sunstroke.

"Not long after, someone else put forward the concept of a Global Rainbow, which means one color represents one continent and the color of the sun-shade above exhibition halls could show which continent they hail from," Wu said.

The Global Rainbow is only one of the many creative ideas Expo designers have received from the public.

Others are under discussion and are likely to be included into the Expo planning when proved practical and safe.

"I believe the novel ideas from local residents will bring a smile to visitors' faces," Wu said.

In another proposal, some people said Chinese traditional landscape gardens and sculpture artwork should be introduced into the Expo. (Shanghai Daily)