Culture industries expo returns next month

Films, games, handmade heritage crafts and the latest high-tech souvenirs are among the highlights of the upcoming Yangtze River Delta International Cultural Industries Expo.

It was announced on Tuesday that the expo, a success when it debuted last year in Shanghai, will return again on November 21-24. The exhibition space will double this year, while the number of participants will also more than double to nearly 870, including more than 100 from overseas.

Highlights from the overseas section include cultural products from Spain, South Africa and Italy, animation from Japan and TV and movies from Thailand.

The fair, co-hosted by Shanghai and the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui, has attracted much interest from foreign companies and institutes, according to Wang Yayuan, deputy director of the publicity office of the CPC Shanghai Committee.

"It's not a regional fair," he said. "It's co-hosted by four areas in the region, but it is intended to become an international platform that optimizes top cultural resources from both home and abroad. Foreign companies will get a first-hand experience of the demands and potential of cultural industries here."

The 54,000-square-meter exhibition area will also showcase the region's cultural highlights, from ancient crafts passed down over centuries to trendy products that combine technology and cultural flair. 

One highlight from Jiangsu Province is the animated painting "Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers,” based on a famous 11th-century piece that depicts the landscape of the region. 

The fair will also host a keynote and 16 themed forums which will explore culture industry trends and new ways to integrate different industries.