On October 17, the 18th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo officially kicked off at the Bai Ma Lake International Exhibition Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Over 5,500 cultural and creative brands from 68 countries and regions are now showcasing their offerings to the public.
The theme for this year’s expo is “Creative Hangzhou: Connecting the World.” The event features a “1+20+20” format, consisting of one main venue at the Bai Ma Lake International Exhibition Center, 20 sub-venues spread across various districts and counties in Hangzhou, and 20 activities including industry exchanges, seminars, and index releases. The main venue’s activities will run until October 21.
Shu Chang, General Manager of Hangzhou Cultural and Exhibition Co., Ltd., noted, “This year, we’re excited to welcome six countries, including Portugal, Ireland, and Egypt, that are participating in the expo for the first time. Among the 550 international brands present, over 70% are entering the Chinese market for the very first time. This year we’ve achieved a record participation with exhibitors from 68 countries and regions.”
At the “Belt and Road” International Cultural and Art Exchange Exhibition’s Egypt display area, 69-year-old Egyptian artist Mohsen was seen diligently creating personalized designs on papyrus paper for attendees.
The art of papyrus painting is an ancient craft in Egypt, utilizing the papyrus plant that grows along the Nile River. Through a series of traditional processes—peeling, pounding, rolling, and soaking—papyrus paper is made, which has a rich history of use in writing and artistic creation dating back thousands of years.
“I have been practicing this craft for 55 years and run a handicraft store in Cairo that is quite popular among Chinese tourists,” Mohsen shared. “This is my first visit to China, and I’m very eager to exchange ideas with artisans from around the world.”
The main venue of the expo includes five themed exhibition halls: “Mutual Learning: New World,” “Reinventing: New Craftsmanship,” “Design: New Wave,” “Digital Innovation: New Scenes,” and “Future: New Youth.”
