The 13th (2019) Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo was held in the 
eastern Chinese city from Sept. 19 to 23 in bid to boost the city's cultural 
industry and global charm, according to the Publicity Department of Hangzhou 
Municipal Government.

"Culture is enriched in exchanges and mutual learning," said Zhou Jiangyong, 
Hangzhou's municipal committee secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) 
and member of the standing committee of Zhejiang provincial CPC committee. 
"Hangzhou has a long and profound history and a holy place that demonstrates 
the 5,000-plus years' history of Chinese civilization. We will use cultural 
creativity to tell the stories of Hangzhou, Zhejiang and China, and strengthen 
cultural exchanges, mutual learning and cooperation with other countries to 
further enhance Hangzhou's international competitiveness and influence."

Held for 13 years since 2007, the expo has not only witnessed the changes and 
development of China's cultural industry, but also increasingly become a link 
of cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

The five-day event attracted more than 400 foreign exhibitors from 53 countries 
and regions. Over 2000 cultural enterprises and organizations from all over the 
world displayed their products and services in eight exhibition areas. The 
common pursuit of creativity for a better life in different cultural 
backgrounds around the world was demonstrated via this international platform.

The expo has attracted more than 286,000 people to participate in exhibitions 
and other activities, and the total amount of on-site transactions and signed 
projects reached 16.75 billion yuan (of which the project financing exceeded 15 
billion yuan), a record high in performance. 

In the main exhibition area, cultural works from Italy, Britain, Switzerland 
and other countries are on display, featuring fashion, design, manufacturing, 
culture and food elements. The theme exhibition area of Hangzhou is of oriental 
zen style, with more than 30 Chinese national arts and crafts masters and old 
artists exhibiting their works of the highest contemporary industrial level. 
The curtains and shadows create an atmosphere of flowing clouds and running 
water, evoking a poetic scenario. Every piece of these delicate works 
demonstrates the peak level of Chinese aesthetics.

It is worth mentioning that the expo set up the British national theme 
exhibition area for the first time last year, attracting more than 130 
well-known British cultural enterprises and institutions to display nearly 
1,000 pieces of local cultural and creative products. The expo continued to 
hold the national theme day section this year, inviting Italy as the guest of 
honour and launching a series of related cultural exhibitions and exchange 
activities. 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, gondolas of Venice, and even the balconies of Romeo 
and Juliet are recreated in an immersive block arrangement. Tuscan 
craftsmanship, Milan fashion, Rome history, Verona story fill the exhibition 
area of 1,000-plus square meters, with fresh cultural products from over 60 
brands from the Apennines Peninsula presenting the romantic Mediterranean 
style. CLAMORI's third-generation successor Lella Amato may pick the best 
"grandma bag" for you.

Italy's Verona is no stranger to most Hangzhou people, as Verona, the West 
Lake, the Grand Canal and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu Ancient 
City were listed on the World Cultural Heritage List successively. The two 
historic cities are bonded by cultural heritage. 

The friendly exchanges between China and Italy in commodities, trade, art and 
culture could be traced back to 2000 years ago, Ludovica Murazzani, commercial 
consul of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai, said at the opening 
ceremony. 

As a guest of honor, Italy will show its Hangzhou friends Italian culture and 
lifestyle in an all-round manner. The year of 2020 will mark the 50th 
anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy diplomatic relations and the 
year of traditional Chinese medicine culture and tourism. Italy will follow in 
the footsteps of Marco Polo to deepen bilateral cultural and creative exchanges 
and cooperation to inspire infinite possibilities, she said.

Preliminary statistics showed that the added value of the cultural industry in 
Hangzhou reached 180.9 billion yuan in 2018, and Hangzhou has risen to the 
country's top club in terms of the scale and contribution of the sector. 
Hangzhou will further develop its cultural industry, and the expo is expected 
to provide important support for Hangzhou to build an international cultural 
and creative center to highlight the fresh charm of this famous historical and 
cultural city.

As a famous historical and cultural city in China and depicted as "the finest 
and most splendid city in the world" by Marco Polo, Hangzhou has been the 
source of inspiration for the most outstanding Chinese artists, writers and 
poets for over one thousand of years. Nowadays, the innovative and 
digital-driven cultural industry enables Hangzhou to continue its cultural 
exchanges with the world and tell wonderful oriental stories with cultural.

Source: The Publicity Department of Hangzhou Municipal Government

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   Caption: Exhibit of the 13th (2019) Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry 
Expo