Yesterday's visitors to the Expo site numbered 485,000, over 60,000 more people than the previous day.

The organizers attributed the rise to the large number of tourism groups and local residents who have received Expo gift packs.

About 159,000 were on group tours, accounting for about 33 percent of yesterday's visitor flow, and nearly 60,000 visitors used their free tickets.

Families with local permanent household registrations, those with local permanent residence permits and those holding local temporary residence permits for at least six months are eligible for the gift pack, which include a thank-you letter, an Expo site map and a souvenir badge in the shape of mascot Haibao. The first batch of families got the kit starting this month.

Officials with the ticketing center of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination reminded residents to plan their visits to avoid overcrowding in the second half of this month.

Houtan gate received as many as 85,000 visitors, Changqing Road 69,000, and Shangnan Road, Gaoke Road W. more than 60,000 each.

A total of 57,509 tickets were sold on site.

By 5pm, 84 performances had been staged, attracting nearly 90,000 visitors. Altogether 6,046 volunteers served on the site.