Xiamen cultural industries fair boosts cross-Straits integration

The 10th Cross-Straits (Xiamen) Cultural Industries Fair kicks off on Nov 3 in Xiamen, Fujian province's second-largest city, showcasing a cultural feast for industrial insiders, visitors and cultural content providers.

With the support of governmental departments, including the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Ministry of Culture, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and Fujian's provincial government, the fair prepares the way for investment and trade in the industry.

The organizers have divided the fair into four major parts, highlighting the latest trends in artwork; creative design; digital content, film and television; as well as cultural and creative tourism.

Through the exhibition, the organizers hope to demonstrate the convergence of the cultural industry, featuring characteristics of both Fujian and Taiwan.

On the theme of Inheriting the Past and Innovating the Future, the fair not only promotes communication in the cultural industry, but also aims to strengthen Xiamen's role in connecting the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

As a platform to connect the market with potential funding, the fair this year is offering several activities for the first time. One new event is a promotion conference on the excellent cultural projects generated on the Ministry of Culture's platform. It has also set up art galleries and auctions for exquisite artwork made by both Fujian and Taiwan-based artists.

An exhibition of artificial intelligence products and weiqi, known in English as go, aim to inspire cultural and technological convergence.

Xu Boyi, a collector from Taiwan, brought his treasured piece to the exhibition - Portrait of Genghis Khan, which depicts the founding father of the Mongolian empire. This is the first time that the 800-year-old portrait has been publicly exhibited in the Chinese mainland.

Some treasured Chinese artworks regarded as intangible cultural heritage will also be unveiled at the exhibition, including Putian wood carvings, Dehua white porcelain and Jianzhan porcelain, which literally means tea bowls fired in kilns.