Nearly 100 media guests converged upon Dongguan on December 5 and 6 on the 
sidelines of the 5th World Media Summit, which unfolds in neighboring Guangzhou 
between December 2 and 8, according to the Organizing Committee. On top of 
touring Songshan Lake Science City, they also immersed in the rich tapestry of 
Chinese agarwood culture and delved into the symbiosis of the city's dynamic 
art toy industry that blends its manufacturing prowess and cultural vibrancy. 
In so doing, they gleaned profound insights into Dongguan's evolution across 
smart manufacturing, industry transformation, entrepreneurial ingenuity, 
cultural heritage preservation, and the burgeoning landscape of leisure tourism.

A globally renowned manufacturing powerhouse, Dongguan has forged a modern 
industrial ecosystem with advanced manufacturing at its core. It is home to a 
network of over 200,000 industrial enterprises, which collectively manufacture 
over 60,000 product varieties under 34 major categories. Within the impressive 
framework have emerged a trillion-yuan electronic information cluster, a 
500-billion-yuan equipment manufacturing hub, and three 100-billion-yuan 
clusters dedicated to new materials, food and beverages, and textile and 
apparel.

Today, the southern Chinese city emerges as one of China's most dynamic, open 
economies, housing over 13,000 foreign-funded enterprises, with a cumulative 
foreign investment exceeding 80 billion US dollars. Upon learning that, 
Mohammed Mali, Director of the Overseas News Center of the Ministry of 
Information of the Republic of Lebanon, gave a thumbs-up, hopeful that media 
reporters would journey to China to perceive the pulse of its development 
themselves.

At China Agarwood Culture Museum, the ancient art of incense trails 
demonstrated by an incense lore master sparked widespread interest. "We are 
eager to delve into the life and thoughts of the Chinese people. Here in the 
agarwood museum, we have witnessed the enchanting historical and cultural 
allure of China, which is key to understanding the country," said a media 
delegate from Turkmenistan.

Exploring the global flagship store of X11 at Dongguan's One City, a shopping 
mall, media representatives were intrigued by fascinating art toys. About 85% 
of such toys come from the city as it is now home to more than 4,000 toy 
manufacturers and nearly 1,500 toy-related businesses, making it the largest 
toy exporter in China.

Upon their visit, media delegates expressed that the journey enabled them to 
break free from the preconceived notions of Dongguan merely as the "factory of 
the world". They acknowledged the city as a manufacturing hub underpinned by an 
enabling environment of scientific research and innovation. The burgeoning art 
toy industry, emblematic of Dongguan's strong industrial roots and youthful, 
stylish ambiance, also provided them with a unique perspective. Through the 
lens of the city, they sensed the boundless vitality driving the dynamic 
development of the Greater Bay Area.

Source: The Organizing Committee of the 5th World Media Summit