The 17th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo concludes on Nov 27. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]

The 17th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo concluded on Nov 27, attracting over 6,500 exhibitors and professionals from 66 countries and regions over the span of five days.

There was a significant increase in the number of overseas guests and exhibitors, showcasing the event's growing global influence. The total value of transactions and signed project agreements reached 2.9 billion yuan ($407.38 million).

The main venue at the Baima Lake International Exhibition Center and the sub-venue at China Animation Museum saw a combined total of 152,000 visitors participating in various activities. The online platform engaged over 6.1 million users, giving it a substantial online presence.

The expo was intended to serve as a platform for fostering international cultural industry exchange and trade. The international exhibition area covered 50 percent of the total exhibition space, bringing together over 500 globally-renowned cultural and creative brands. More than 370 international brands debuted in China, with 40 percent of the exhibits being globally limited editions.

High-profile events like the "Tea and the World · Cultural Life" international dialogue and the Hangzhou International Handicraft Innovation and Development Forum were held, while 13 professional forums, covering topics such as intangible cultural heritage conservation, were also organized, and several significant annual industry development reports were released during the expo.

The event also facilitated the signing of multiple project agreements and awarded accolades such as the Top 10 Cultural and Creative Brands of 2023 and the 2023 Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Rising Stars, showcasing avant-garde artworks and digital cultural scenes.

The event features various international exhibitions. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]