Guangzhou convention and exhibition industry has witnessed an extraordinary year of 2022. The complex and severe epidemic situation across the country is sending shock waves and testing the will of exhibition enterprises and everyone in the industry. Nevertheless, Guangzhou is forging ahead with an unwavering determination to build an “international convention & exhibition hub”. The commitment of Guangzhou municipal government in achieving this goal, the determination of exhibition enterprises to grow against headwinds, and the courage of all stakeholders in the industry, have all contributed to the huge energy pool for a recovery and comeback of the industry, helping Guangzhou exhibition to weather the winter storm and embrace the warm spring. What are the “highlights” worth marking the calendar of the past 2022? Please join us in the journey for every bit of the shining moments.

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Retail Sales of Consumer Goods & Import and Export of Foreign Trade in Guangzhou Both Topping RMB 1 Trillion, Kicking off 14th Five-Year Plan Period

In 2021, Guangzhou registered two record-breaking growth, with both its total retail sales of consumer goods (RMB 1012.256 billion) and its total import and export of foreign trade (RMB 1082.59 billion) topping RMB one trillion, making it the third city with such achievement in China after Beijing and Shanghai. This performance is a testimony to the city’s strong economic resilience, large internal demand and robust industrial foundation, underpinning the growth of Guangzhou’s convention and exhibition industry (C&E industry) in both domestic and international markets.

Guangzhou Commerce Bureau Mapping out COVID-19 Response for Exhibition Events after Spring Festival

In the meeting held at the Canton Fair Complex on the afternoon of February 11, Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce briefed the epidemic prevention and control requirements for exhibitions to be held in February and March by introducing relevant notifications issued by the city government and emphasizing the implementation of COVID-19 response measures in exhibitions following the Spring Festival. A total of 40 participants representing both the five exhibition halls in Pazhou area and exhibition organizers in February and March attended the meeting.

Debut of the Tiger Year--D.PES Sign & LED Expo Staging in Guangzhou

On February 16, D.PES Sign & LED Expo China (25 & 26 sessions combined) was staged in Pazhou Poly World Trade Expo, participated by about 700 leading and upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry. The 60,000-square-meter Expo with five exhibition areas in seven exhibition halls is the first large-scale exhibition held in Guangzhou in 2022 on the Chinese lunar calendar, kicking off an amazing start to the city’s C&E industry in the Year of the Tiger .

Five Exhibitions in a Weekend! Largest Scale Professional Exhibition Staging in Guangzhou

The last weekend of February witnessed five exhibition events in Pazhou, including professional and consumer exhibitions in science and technology, liquor, catering, automobile and culture industries, a showcase of the diversified features of Guangzhou’s exhibitions. The total exhibition scale exceeded 200,000 square meters, with over 150,000 visitors. Among the events, the 20th Guangzhou International Professional Lighting and Sound Exhibition, covering an area of 140,000 square meters, is the largest and most appealing brand exhibition in the global professional audio-visual industry, attracting nearly 1,100 exhibitors and 52,000 professional visitors.

Guangzhou Suspending All Exhibitions amid COVID-19

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Joint Conference Office of Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Industry issued the Emergency Notice on the Suspension of Recent Exhibition Activities on March 11, requiring that all exhibition activities be suspended in the city. The suspension lasted for 101 days.

Pazhou Convention Complex Transformed into Emergency Makeshift Hospital

At the beginning of April, Guangzhou transformed within 48 hours the five halls in Zone A of Pazhou Convention and Exhibition Center as instructed into a more than 3,000-bed makeshift hospital, ensuring a quick and effective response to sudden outbreaks as well as a solid foundation for routine epidemic prevention and control going forward.

The 131st Spring Canton Fair Opens Virtually

On April 15, the 131st Canton Fair had a virtual opening ceremony, kicking off a 10-day online session with the theme of “Connecting the Dual Circulation of International and Domestic Markets”. About 255,00 exhibitors at home and abroad attended the exhibition divided into 50 exhibition areas according to 16 categories of goods, a scale on par with that of previous sessions. Over 2.9 million exhibits were uploaded including more than 900,000 new exhibits and more than 480,000 green and low-carbon exhibits, both setting new records.

Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for Business Development Gives Priority to C&E Industry; International C&E Hub to be Built with Stronger Capacity

The Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for Guangzhou’s Business Development was released with a priority given to the development of the C&E industry. According to the Plan, Guangzhou will strive to achieve the goal of “making a new leap in the construction of a C&E hub” in years 2021 to 2025. The space layout of exhibition venues with a “1+2+5+N” pattern will be further optimized. The scale and functions of Pazhou C&E core area will be continuously improved, with the Canton Fair Complex becoming one of the largest exhibition complexes in the world. By 2025, the exhibition area of key exhibition venues in the city is expected to reach 12 million square meters. The scale of the Canton Fair will be further expanded, and the influence of professional exhibitions in Guangzhou will be significantly enhanced, with a number of industry-leading professional brand exhibitions in both international and domestic markets. A more appealing and influential convention destination will be established with more than 100 international conferences staging in the city every year.

China Exhibition Statistics Released, Guangzhou Ranks No.2 in Exhibition Scale

On May 25, China Convention/Exhibition/Event Society released the Statistical Report on China’s Exhibitions in 2021 (purple book, hereinafter referred to as the Report) online. The Report shows that Guangzhou ranks No. 2 in China in 2021 with 388 exhibitions and 6.84 million square meters of exhibition area, accounting for 7.06% and 7.45% of the national total respectively; Guangzhou earned another second ranking place by hosting 90 online exhibitions, 14.45% of the total online and offline exhibitions held in the same period in China; the city boasts the third largest available exhibition area of 492,400 square meters in its exhibition venues. Among them, China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) Complex is the third largest single exhibition complex in the country, and the Poly World Trade Fair comes in second in the country with a utilization rate of 44.54%.

A New Guangzhou C&E Promotion Video Released

On June 14, the Guangzhou C&E promotion video originally produced by Guangzhou Commerce & Exhibition Promotion and Service Center was officially released. The 4-minute promo is divided into three chapters--Advantages & Momentum, Thriving against Headwinds and Future Prospects. The video showcases the booming C&E industry in Guangzhou from multiple perspectives with an international narrative and tech-savvy demonstration in a dynamic and vivid language. Representatives of foreign businessmen, well-known exhibition enterprises and experts also contributed to the film by making an appearance and giving their words about Guangzhou’s C&E industry.

PWTC Expo Hosting 2022 COVID-19 Response Drill for Exhibitions

On June 16, Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo (PWTC Expo) organized the 2022 drill for epidemic prevention and control during C&E events. Participants from Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, Haizhu District Bureau of Public Security, Haizhu District Bureau of Science, Technology, Industry, Commerce and Information Technology, Haizhu District Disease Control Center, local police stations and residents’ committees and officials of Poly International Trade Corporation attended the event. Representatives of hosting and organizing institutions as well as venue contractors were present. This drill aims to implement the overall requirements to resume work and production of the C&E industry in Guangzhou, improve the epidemic prevention and control awareness of all employees and the ability of emergency response, and create a safe and orderly environment for exhibitions.

Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Leads a Business Mission to Guangzhou

On the afternoon of June 17, Macao MICE Industry Business Matchmaking in the Greater Bay Area (Guangzhou) was held and Luo Zheng, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, attended the event. Li Zaosen, Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), organized around 60 representatives of the Macao MICE sector for a business mission to Guangzhou. On June 17-18, Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce organized nearly 30 representatives of enterprises in culture tourism, MICE industry, traditional Chinese medicine and healthcare, science and technology and modern finance for business talks and exchanges with their Macao counterparts, providing a platform for enterprises in Guangzhou and Macao for matchmaking and actively promoting industrial exchange and cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.

The 1st Session of Guangzhou (Haizhu) Exhibition and Convention Alliance Held in Guangzhou

On the afternoon of June 20, the first session of Guangzhou (Haizhu) Exhibition and Convention Alliance was held in the Canton Fair Complex. Mao Songbai, Head of Haizhu District, Luo Zheng, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, and Zhang Sihong, Deputy Director of China Foreign Trade Center attended the conference. Nearly 200 participants were present at the event, including relevant government departments, members of the Alliance, C&E enterprises, digital economy enterprises in exhibition services, relevant associations and media. As a comprehensive industrial chain organization in the C&E industry led by Haizhu District, the Alliance is joined by excellent member enterprises such as C&E companies (exhibitors), venues, professional service providers, hotels, and Internet technology companies, aiming to pool innovative elements and industrial resources in Pazhou, and promote exponential growth in the C&E industry.

The 11th CCHF Successfully Held in Guangzhou; First Exhibition in Construction Materials in 2022

On June 23, the 11th China Guangzhou Custom Home Furnishing Exhibition/2022 China Guangzhou Custom Home Overall Decoration&Smart Home Furnishing Exhibition/2022 Decoration Retail Supply Chain Selected Brands Expo opened in PWTC Exopo and Guangzhou International Sourcing Center (ISC), becoming the first exhibition reopening in Guangzhou since the suspension of exhibition on March 11. As the first national building materials event in 2022, this exhibition has drawn much attention from the industry. With the theme of “Customize+Overall Renovation”, the exhibition is the first double exhibition hosted by both PWTC Exopo and ISC, with an exhibition area of more than 100,000 square meters for the first time, an increase of 35% compared with the previous session.

The 25th China Baking Exhibition 2022 Grandly Opens

On June 30, the 25th China Baking Exhibition 2022 grandly opened in the Canton Fair Complex. The 50,000-square-meter exhibition with more than 500 exhibitors attracted over 100,000 visitors from all over the country. With the theme of “More Than Just Baking”, the exhibition introduced the coffee & tea category on top of the traditional baking theme, and held more than 10 theme activities, including the 2022 “More Than Just Baking” China Bakery Industry Development Summit, and the Together for the Future • Prefabricated Bakery Exhibition, presenting a grand show of “baking+catering+coffee & tea” through product exhibition, summit forum, professional competition, etc. The event has drawn a large number of visitors and provided opportunities for business talks, bringing vitality to China’s baking industry and boosting the market confidence.

The 24th China (Guangzhou) International Building Decoration Fair Held Successfully in Guangzhou

On July 8, the 24th China (Guangzhou) International Building Decoration Fair grandly opened in Guangzhou. The four-day exhibition, themed “Building an Ideal Home and Serving a New Pattern”, covers an exhibition area of 300,000 square meters. More than 1,200 brand enterprises from 22 provinces (cities/autonomous regions) across the country--leading enterprises in almost all the sub-sectors, attended over 80 meetings during the exhibition. The exhibition provides a shining example of “high-quality supply” for the industry featuring three highlights of steady progress in exhibition quality, design guidance, and multi-channel empowerment.

The 49th China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) Held with 510,000 sq m Exhibition Area

On July 17, the 49th China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) (CIFF Guangzhou) officially opened. The two-session Fair, themed “Building a Better Home and Serving a New Pattern”, attracted more than 2,700 exhibitors and held over 80 activities. The 510,000-square-meter Fair composes of five themes including home furniture, home textile, outdoor&leisure furniture, office furniture and commercial furniture, and furniture machinery & raw materials, drawing 2,500 brand enterprises from 23 countries and regions and 24 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in China to participate. During the Fair, 8 theme exhibitions and more than 130 conferences and forums were held, with the presence of more than 100,000 high-quality professional visitors of commercial value. As the first hybrid session of the Fair, it attracted more than 50 million visitors online.

Asia Famous Industry Exhibition Interzum Held in Guangzhou

On July 26, Interzum Guangzhou, a well-known trade fair of woodworking machinery, furniture manufacturing and interior decor industries in Asia, was held in the Canton Fair Complex. As a one-stop business platform for the furniture manufacturing industry, the fair covers global supply chain resources such as furniture design, hardware accessories, and interior decor materials, during which many international brands have demonstrated their high-end and cutting-edge core products.

The 27th International Lighting Exhibition--Barometer of Lighting&LED Industry Held in Guangzhou

On August 3, the 27th Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) was held in the Canton Fair Complex. This exhibition was held in conjunction with the Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT), with a total exhibition area of 110,000 square meters. 1,288 brands from 13 countries and regions participated, with more than 120,000 professional visitors from 58 countries and regions.

The Fourth Edition of Operation Guideline for Exhibition Activities in Guangzhou with the Normalization of the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Released

On August 22, the Joint Conference Office for the Reform and Development of Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Industry issued the fourth edition of the Operation Guideline for Exhibition Activities in Guangzhou with the Normalization of the COVID-19 Prevention and Control, clarifying the latest requirements for COVID-19 response in hosting exhibitions. The Guideline are applicable to the organizers, venues and exhibition service enterprises of all exhibition activities in Guangzhou during the epidemic. The latest Guideline has made a number of important updates compared with the former edition, making the prevention measures more targeted and effective.

Taobao Maker Festival Debuted in Guangzhou: 280,000 Businesses Showcase Creativity

On August 24, the 7th Taobao Maker Festival debuted in the Canton Fair Complex, attracting a record-setting 280,000 online and offline participants to attend. It is also the first time for the Festival to introduce, on top of the traditional “Creativity Exhibition”, the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference” for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, which is divided into four sub-forums in new consumption, green health, science and technology, and content culture. The Festival has been held for seven consecutive years, and is honored as the top platform for youth innovation and entrepreneurship in the industry. It not only displays rich imagination, but also creates a number of trend-setting new businesses.

The 30th Guangzhou Fair Successfully Held with Signed Projects Topping RMB 10 Billion

On August 24, the 30th Guangzhou Fair opened in the Canton Fair Complex. The 6-day exhibition, themed “New Era & New Landscape & New Development”, aims to establish extensive connection and expand cooperation among friendly regions and cities at home and abroad. With 8 comprehensive, professional and special exhibitions and 3,900 booths, the Fair attracted 1,520 exhibitors, including about 50 listed enterprises and Fortune Global 500 enterprises, hosted nearly 20 economic and trade exchange activities with over 54,000 visitors, and facilitated the signing of 139 cooperation projects with a total amount of RMB 11.796 billion. Delegations from 40 provinces and cities and 20 consulates in Guangzhou with enterprises of their own countries participated in the exhibition, staging a series of important activities such as government exchanges, summit forums, product promotion and sales, skill competitions, and high-tech display.

The 2022 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo Held in Guangzhou

On August 30, the 8th China Guangzhou International Investment Annual Conference and the 1st Global Unicorn CEO Conference hosted by Guangzhou Municipal Government opened in Guangzhou Yuexiu International Conference Center. On the morning of the same day, a special session of the 2022 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo themed “Overseas Quality Brands Expanding into Markets of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” was also held, attracting nearly 100 representatives from more than 50 consulates in Guangzhou, as well as international business associations, enterprises and institutions.

Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council Issued COVID-19 Response Requirements, No Exhibitions to be Held from Sept 10 to Oct 31

On the afternoon of September 8, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference to brief COVID-19 response with a science-based and targeted approach, and released the requirements for epidemic prevention and control before and after the Mid Autumn Festival and the National Day Holiday, urging the city to reduce unnecessary gathering activities, and avoid hosting large-scale activities such as training, exhibitions, and cultural performances except for essential reasons.

Food2China Expo Settling in Guangzhou, Another IP for the International C&E Hub

At the beginning of October, the Food2China Expo project was officially launched in Guangzhou, opening to global exhibitors. This marks that the world famous food exhibition IP--Food2China Expo was officially settled in Guangzhou. The first session will be held from September 21 to September 23, 2023 in PWTC Expo, with an estimated exhibition area of 66,000 square meters. As a super large brand exhibition with international fame, Food2China Expo will help drive Guangzhou’s efforts in building an international consumption center with high standards and creating a new benchmark leading the trend of modern consumption fashion in China.

The 132nd Canton Fair Held Virtually

On October 15, the 132nd Canton Fair opened online with the theme of “Connecting the Dual Circulation of International and Domestic Markets”. More than 35,000 exhibitors attended, nearly 10,000 more than the previous session, and more than 3.06 million exhibits were uploaded, setting a new record. The 132nd Canton Fair expanded the scope of participation, extended service time, optimized platform functions, enriched trade promotion activities, and promoted interaction with cross-border e-commerce to provide more convenient services for enterprises and merchants from all countries. Meantime, the exhibition further liberalized the application for participation, attracted more qualified enterprises to participate, and expanded the number of beneficiary enterprises. Among them, 34,744 enterprises participated in the export exhibition, focusing on household products, household appliances, building materials, catering, hardware and other fields; 416 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions attended the import exhibition. 2,094 brand enterprises participated with more than 3.06 million exhibits uploaded. Since this session, the online platform service of each session will extend from 10 days to 5 months. In addition, more than 70 global trade promotion activities were held, including more than 40 “one-on-one” precise matchmaking activities. At the same time, the activity called “Discover Canton Fair with Bee and Honey” was held.

Pazhou Makeshift Hospital Commissioned in Guangzhou

On November 4, the spokesperson of the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission introduced at the press conference on epidemic prevention and control that Guangzhou will open backup designated hospitals, sub-designated hospitals and makeshift hospitals to treat mild cases and asymptomatic infections at an appropriate time. With the strong support of the Ministry of Commerce, Poly Group and other institutions, exhibition venues such as the Canton Fair Complex and PWTC Expo have successively become backup emergency makeshift hospitals at the municipal level, contributing actively to the epidemic prevention and control of the city during the special epidemic period.

Guangzhou Organized Foreign Trade Enterprises on Chartered Flights to Participate in Exhibitions Overseas for Global Orders

Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce organized more than 100 delegates from nearly 40 foreign trade enterprises on chartered flights to participate in the 4th Guangdong (Malaysia) Commodity Fair and Cosmoprof Asia 2022 in Singapore, achieving remarkable results in securing orders, tapping markets and building channels.

The 2021 Report on Competitiveness Index of Convention and Exhibition Industry in Chinese Cities Released; Guangzhou Scored First in Sub-provincial Cities and Third among All Candidates

On November 22, the 2021 Report on Competitiveness Index of Convention and Exhibition Industry in Chinese Cities compiled by China Convention / Exhibition / Event Society was officially released. According to the Report, the competitiveness index of Guangzhou’s C&E industry ranks first among the sub-provincial cities and third among all candidates. According to the Report, Guangzhou has scored high in the following four competitiveness indicators in C&E industry, city’s overall environment, C&E talents and C&E comprehensive services.

The 2022 20th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition Grandly Opened

On December 30, the 2022 20th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition opened in the Canton Fair Complex. As the first large-scale international auto show reopening after the release of the New Ten Rules for Further Optimizing Epidemic Prevention and Control, and the only Class-A auto show held this year, this exhibition has drawn international mainstream auto brands to participate. The China Guangzhou Auto Industry Conference, a national level forum, was held during the exhibition. The 220,000-square-meter exhibition is the maiden show displayed in the newly built Area D of the Canton Fair Complex, together with the indoor exhibition halls in Area A and the outdoor exhibition areas in the North and South Square.

Canton Fair Complex Phase IV Officially Unveiled!

On December 30, the fourth phase of the Canton Fair Complex was officially unveiled. As the largest expansion project in the development history of the Canton Fair, the 560,000-square-meter space is equipped with four functional areas, including the Area D exhibition hall, conference center, control center and log in hall, providing almost 6,000 additional booths and more than 40% of exhibition space. With the Phase IV project, Canton Fair Complex will become a super large comprehensive exhibition complex with multiple functions, providing an exhibition museum, meeting rooms, multi-functional halls, display areas, and catering services all in one. It will also become the largest of its kind in the world, making Guangzhou and its C&E industry more visible in the global market.

Guangzhou Exhibition in Full Swing to Wrap up 2022

With the new year right around the corner, the development and recovering efforts have been in full swing in Guangzhou since December. While strictly implementing the optimized measures of COVID-19 response, Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce is identifying potential exhibition opportunities with enterprises to resume the C&E industry at a faster pace in the city. With the joint efforts of the government departments and exhibition enterprises, South China International Auto Show, Guangzhou Smart Property Management Expo, and the 20th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition among others were held successively, an impetus of Guangzhou’s efforts to wrap up 2022 by “seizing opportunities for economic growth and development” with exhibitions, and to steadily add to the momentum of urban development.