Qingdao in Shandong province hosted 48 various exhibitions and events in the first quarter of the year, covering an exhibition area of 410,000 square meters and presenting a dazzling array of exhibition activities, according to official data.

The total transactions from various exhibitions and events in the first quarter exceeded 6 billion yuan ($828.05 million), attracting 680,000 visitors. Revenue from the exhibition industry in Qingdao increased by 20 percent compared to the same period last year, demonstrating the vitality of the industry and the upward trend of the exhibition economy.

The CREC Qingdao Cosmopolitan Exposition is now bustling with activity. According to authorities, the venue is expected to host over 230 exhibitions, conferences, and events throughout the year, including the World Transport Convention 2024, all of which are expected to have a total exhibition area exceeding 1.1 million sq m.

The successive hosting of exhibitions has led to the aggregation of resources such as talent flow, powering the sustained high-quality development of Qingdao.

The vibrant exhibitions demonstrate the upward trend of Qingdao's exhibition industry, boosting confidence among exhibition enterprises. This year, many Qingdao exhibition companies are actively expanding business and scaling up to in order to meet the preparation requirements of exhibitions.

"Our company plans to organize over 30 exhibitions nationwide this year," said Liu Zhen, deputy general manager of Qingdao JINNOC International Exhibition Co Ltd.

In recent years, Qingdao has attached great importance to the development of the exhibition industry, incorporating it into its 24 key industrial chains. The exhibition industry currently serves as a vital bridge between global industrial and supply chains, which has driven exports and served as a pillar of the city's economic growth.

The WTC2024 is scheduled to be held in the Qingdao West Coast New Area from June 26 to 29. [Photo/WeChat account: xihaiannews]