Macao's Expo Pavilion will be designed as a jade rabbit, a mythological Chinese animal, to highlight the country's tradition and culture, the special administrative government has said.

The pavilion will be like a rabbit light, a paper light children play with in the Mid-autumn Festival in south China.

In Chinese mythology, the jade rabbit is a guide at the front of Nantianmen, the door leading to the fairy land. At the Expo the Macao Pavilion will be just like a jade rabbit beside China's Pavilion, ready to welcome visitors from all over the world, an official said.

The pavilion will use high-tech equipment and be environmentally friendly using solar energy and recyclable construction materials.

The "Jade Rabbit" was selected as the best design after a competition. The project was designed jointly by the famous Portuguese designer Carlos Marreriros and Macao designers Tang Mengwai and Lei Saicheong.

The Macao government has given the designers US$22,500.

Another two projects, "Dancing Lotus" and "Glitter," came second and third in the competition.

All the projects will go on show at an Expo exhibition in Macao in October.