Representatives attend a signing ceremony for key projects during the expo. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweishinan]

The 2021 China (Qingdao) Art Expo was held on July 9-11 in the Shinan district of Qingdao city – located in East China's Shandong province – featuring an array of art performances and design competitions.

The event is seen as a platform for Qingdao to expand its cultural influence and boost international exchanges, experts said. It covered such sectors as the arts, fashion, education and the economy and is part of a series of exhibitions, forums and lectures to be held throughout the year, creating a perpetual art expo cycle.

Individual stands featured cutting-edge art research and teaching products, including digital cultural items and artificial intelligence interactive compositions.

With its theme of "art makes the city more fashionable", this year's expo promoted the exchanges and mutual learning to be gained from artistic achievements. The three-day event featured nine major activities, including the release of the international communications power list of art cities in 2020.