The capital will turn heads in Shanghai next week when the 600-sq-m Beijing Pavilion is unveiled ahead of the World Expo.

The pavilion, which is the only venue at Expo Park that has a transformable external appearance, will start operations on April 20.

That's the day when the whole Expo site will be fired up for testing ahead of the formal launch of the world's fair on May 1, the Beijing government said on Thursday.

The Beijing Pavilion will be open to the public between the May 1 opening and Oct 30, officials said during the first press conference of the Beijing Operation Team

Beijing's entry has a state-of-the-art movable exterior that can morph into shapes resembling several of the capital's major landmarks.

Iconic shapes the building will assume include Bird's Nest Stadium, the Water Cube and the Temple of Heaven.

The structure comprises mechanical arms that hold light-emitting diode screens that will show pictures of city buildings.

Construction of the Beijing Pavilion wrapped up on April 1 and technicians have since been running tests and fine-tuning displays.

On April 20, the Beijing Pavilion will be opened, along with the rest of Expo Park, for a testing period before the gates are thrown open to the public on May 1.

Beijing will be the first city taking part in Expo to hold a promotional week. The special session will take place between May 4 and 8.

"We will present a gift symbolizing Beijing's best wishes for Expo during the opening ceremony of the promotional week, but we need to keep it a secret for now," said Ding Baizhi, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Radio and Television.

People unable to make it to Shanghai will be able to get a taste of the Beijing Pavilion by going online and checking out a representation of the real pavilion.

There will also be information online about Beijing's exhibit.

During Beijing's promotional week, a Project Negotiation Day on May 6 will highlight new strategies and commercial opportunities in Beijing's economic development.

The districts and counties of Beijing will promote themselves via exhibitions, project inquiries and negotiations.

"The high-technology, culture and new manufacturing industry in Beijing will be brought to Shanghai to demonstrate the concept of Beijing's development and search for some opportunities there," said Wang Hongzhuan, deputy director of the Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau.

Themes of exhibits in the Beijing Pavilion include Charming Capital, People's Beijing, Hi-Tech Beijing and Green Beijing, government officials said.

"The history and culture of Beijing will be celebrated in 'People's Beijing'," said Liu Zhi, deputy secretary-general of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality and chief commander of the Group for Beijing Participation.

Technological products from the capital will be featured in "Hi-Tech Beijing" while "Green Beijing" will share Beijing's creative and competitive nature.