The Xiamen International Expo Center. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Data shows that in 2023, Xiamen hosted a total of 152 exhibitions with a combined area of approximately 2.26 million square meters, marking a 68.2 percent year-on-year increase and a recovery to 94 percent of the 2019 level.

In 2024, the city aims to reach a total exhibition area of three million square meters. 

The three major exhibition clusters of Island Ring Boulevard in Siming district, Fengxiang New City in Xiang'an district, and Wuyuan Bay in Huli district have formed a balanced development exhibition industry ecosystem both inside and outside the Amoy Island.

The exhibition industry has brought a constant flow of people and a strong commercial presence to Xiamen, stimulating a multiplier effect for the city's cultural tourism development and various key industries.

The 2023 China Sport Show attracted a record of over 100,000 attendees, while the 23rd China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) attracted nearly 80,000 domestic and foreign participants from 106 countries and regions.

In 2023, the city hosted a total of 4,383 conferences attended by 810,000 people, a 155.3 percent year-on-year increase. This generated approximately 28.7 billion yuan ($3.98 billion) in economic benefits, an 85.4 percent increase from the previous year.

Exhibition events not only gather information and people, but also attract projects. Each session of the CIFIT attracts a large number of investors and companies from around the world to Xiamen. 

In 2023, agreements for cooperation projects with a total investment of 484.57 billion yuan were reached at the fair, bringing a wealth of investment and cooperation opportunities to the city.