People wait for the opening at the Canton Fair Complex on on April 15, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Qingzhao]

The 121st Canton Fair kicked off in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, on Saturday April 15, 2017. The fair is scheduled to take place from Sunday through May 5, in three phases.

Its exhibition area measures 1.18 million square meters, featuring more than 60,000 booths and nearly 25,000 domestic and foreign companies. The import exhibition zone has attracted 364 companies from countries along the Belt and Road, or 58.7 percent of those present in the section.

The Canton Fair is held every spring and autumn and is seen as a barometer of the country's foreign trade.

People wait for the opening of halls at the Canton Fair Complex at 9 am on April 15, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Qingzhao]

　Midea, an electric appliance enterprise from Guangdong, participates in the first phase of 121st Canon Fair. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Qingzhao]

Gree, an electric appliance enterprise from Guangdong, participates in the first phase of 121st Canon Fair. [Photo: Xinhua/Peng Sen]

　Foreign purchasers view exhibits at the 121st Canton Fair. [Photo/Xinhua]

　Exhibits at the 121st Canton Fair. [Photo: Xinhua/Peng Sen]

The import area of the first phase. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Qingzhao]

Foreign purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

People visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Foreign purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Foreign purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

A foreign purchaser plays a VR game at the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Foreign purchasers visit the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2017. The 121st Canton Fair kicked off on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)