China Cultural & Creative Industry Expo opens in Beijing

The eighth China International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo has just kicked off in Beijing.

The eighth China International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo has just kicked off in Beijing. The exhibition opened on Thursday morning in a number of venues across the capital. 

"Cross-border" integration of culture and creation is prominently featured here at the expo. This performance entitled "The Music of China" is a simple example of how exhibitors are demonstrating their products in creative ways.

At the expo's main venue, eight halls are packed with screens and shelves of exhibitors from home and abroad, a rally for arts and crafts.

Intangible cultural heritage products are also displayed, including this shadow puppet play. And what's special about this team is that it is mostly made of dwarves.

"Our company has been together for seven years now. We have a daily performance at the Old Summer Palace in Beijing. This event provides us with a great stage to showcase our talent," said Sun Li with "Dragon in Sky" shadow play.

Sun told us it takes about three months to master the basic knowledge of shadow puppetry, but another two years to learn the skills of carving, singing and puppeteering.

While reviving the old, the expo also aims to cultivate the new, building a platform for young creative minds to showcase their designs.

Shopping won't be an exhausting job any more with this smart cart. You don't have to wait in the long queue in the supermarket for checking out; it can help you with that. The system can recognize the code on the item you are buying. What's more, if you are tired of walking, just look at this.

"These pieces were designed and built by my fellow graduate students. The smart shopping trolley can be turned on using a key like this and can play useful information about the products on sale. What's more, it can follow the customer using a sensor," said Chen Yizhou from Beijing University of Technology.

According to Chen, they are working to improve the smart cart. Hopefully, it will be manufactured and will play a part in the supermarkets of the future. The expo is open from Wednesday to Sunday, but the rapid development of industries relying on creative ideas keeps on going.