The 139th Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou from 15 April to 5 May. The story of the Canton Fair is written in every handshake, every order, and every exhibit. It is also written in the evolution of its venues and the growth of the city.
Celebrating the Canton Fair's history, present-day vitality, and future possibilities, IP Guangdong is now launching a call for submissions under the theme: "Canton Fair: Connecting Generations."
In 1957, the first Canton Fair opened at the Sino-Soviet Friendship Building, Guangzhou, and agricultural products and handicrafts began their journey to the world from there. For more than 60 years, the Canton Fair has called five venues home, from the Sino-Soviet Friendship Building to today's Pazhou Complex. The shifting venues are part of Guangzhou's own urban development narrative.
In those old photographs, we see the smiling faces of the first exhibitors, merchants making their way through the streets, with cases in hand, and a city transforming itself to welcome visitors from around the world. Every vintage image is a testament to the shared growth of the Canton Fair and Guangdong.
Yet, the appeal of the Canton Fair is not confined to memory.
The 139th Canton Fair is about to open. Inside the exhibition halls, global merchants gather for vibrant exchanges and look ahead to the future. New product launches, the warm assistance of volunteers, and the international faces seen on city streets—these are all part of the Canton Fair's present-day identity. The Canton Fair welcomes every visitor with open arms.
The appeal of the Canton Fair extends far beyond the present, stretching into the future.
When AI-generated art, digital design, and VR/AR technologies converge with the Canton Fair, what new possibilities will emerge? You can use technology and imagination to envision the Canton Fair of the future. It could be a floating exhibition hall or a robot exhibitor. Every vision will become part of the ongoing story of the Canton Fair.
We invite you to share the past and present of the Canton Fair and help imagine its future with your creativity.
Theme
Canton Fair: Connecting Generations
Submission Period
Now through 6 May
Submission Categories
Category 1: Photography
Photographs related to the Canton Fair, including but not limited to historical images, exhibition scenes, exhibit details, and portraits.
You may document memories or capture the energy of the present moment. Focus on a fleeting glance, a handshake, or a successful deal inside the halls. Or turn your camera beyond the venue to capture the modern pulse and everyday vitality that the Canton Fair brings to the city.
Category 2: Video
Short films, mini-documentaries, creative videos, and other moving image works related to the Canton Fair. Content may focus on on-site scenes and observations, personal stories, exhibit highlights, international exchange, the city's atmosphere, or the fair-going experience.
Capture an authentic slice of the fair, tell the story of someone connected to it, immerse us in the atmosphere on the ground, or film the lively street scenes that spring up around the event.
Category 3: Design
Creative design works centered on the Canton Fair, including but not limited to posters, illustrations, digital art, and mascot and character design.
Present the Canton Fair as you remember it, or boldly reimagine its future. Use visual language to convey your unique perspective. Create a digital exhibition hall with a cutting-edge aesthetic, or produce visuals rich in distinctive Lingnan character.
Category 4: Literacy
Written works related to the Canton Fair, including poetry, essays, short prose, short stories, and non-fiction pieces.
Your work may be a memorable story from years past, a vivid character study of someone connected to the fair, or an imaginative vision of its future.
How to Participate
Method 1: Visit www.ipguangdong.cn, register, and upload your entries. When uploading, select [Join the event] - [Canton Fair: Connecting Generations] or submit directly through the event submission page—submissions made via these channels will be considered entries for the event.
Method 2: Open the South APP, tap the “Visual” tap at the bottom of the screen to enter the IP Guangdong channel, and click "Upload" on the "Canton Fair: Connecting Generations" page. Register and upload your entries.
Selection Criteria
This call for submissions primarily accepts visual and written works, subject to the following requirements:
Original works that reflect the spirit of the Canton Fair.
Visual submissions include photos, videos, paintings, and designs. Each entry must be accompanied by a brief description (≤100 words).
Formats: Images and design works: JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP (minimum resolution: 1920×1080). Videos: MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI (minimum resolution: 1280×720; maximum file size: 8 GB).
For written submissions, poems should not exceed 50 lines, and the word count for prose (essays, short stories, etc.) should be within 5,000 words.
If AI-generated or AI-synthesized content is used, the primary AI tools, platforms, and specific stages of their application must be clearly disclosed.
Participation Guidelines
1. We encourage all participants to share and promote their entries across multiple platforms. If your work has already gained significant reach or engagement elsewhere, please include a note or supporting metrics when uploading to IP Guangdong. The organizer will take social visibility and engagement into account during the selection process.
2. Participants must ensure that all submitted works are original and independently created, and that they do not violate any laws or regulations nor infringe upon the intellectual property rights or other legitimate rights and interests of any third party (including but not limited to rights of portrait, reputation, privacy, and name). Any disputes or legal actions arising from illegal, non-compliant, or infringing content shall be the sole responsibility of the participant, and the organizer assumes no liability in such cases.
3. Please refrain from adding watermarks to your submissions. Participants are required to retain the original files. In the event of an intellectual property dispute, if the original files cannot be provided as evidence, IP Guangdong and its related platforms reserve the right to remove the work.
4. By submitting a work, participants acknowledge and agree that the organizer may use accepted submissions for non-commercial purposes—including but not limited to publication, exhibition (both online and offline), and online promotion—either directly or by authorizing third parties (such as TV stations, steaming platforms, websites, and other media). No additional compensation will be provided.
5. During the submission period, works used for promotion and exhibition do not represent the final selection results.
6. By submitting an entry, participants confirm that they have read and fully accept all terms and conditions outlined in this announcement.
7. The organizer reserves the right of final interpretation of these rules within the scope permitted by law.
