An exhibition marking 70 years of the Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou on October 15, bringing together historic photographs, old trade products and modern innovations to tell the story of China's evolving role in global commerce.
The exhibition, titled "Canton Fair: 70 Years of Connecting the World," is being held at Hall 5 of the Liuhua Exhibition and Trade Center, formerly the Sino-Soviet Friendship Building, where the first Canton Fair took place. The exhibition runs until November 15.
Featuring 110 photographs and 145 historical objects, the exhibition follows the fair's development through four stages and six themed sections, tracing its journey since its launch in 1957.
Among the exhibits are ID badges collected by Li Huan, former chairman of the Hong Kong Nam Pak Hong Association, who attended every session from the first to the 126th.
"Over the past 70 years, the Canton Fair has not just brought goods to the world, but also opened China's doors wider to the world," his grandson Michael Li said. The family donated the historical exhibits to tell the story of a deep connection to the fair spanning three generations.
A Dongfeng watch, introduced in 1972 as China's first watch for export, and a Phoenix bicycle from the 1990s illustrate how Chinese consumer goods have evolved. They are displayed alongside Panda televisions, Haier refrigerators and smart bicycles equipped with motion-sensing and health-management systems, reflecting a shift in Chinese manufacturing from meeting basic needs to offering higher-quality, technology-driven products.
"Now, we're talking about robots," said John Anton Kremer, an executive director at Rosenberg Group who has been visiting the fair for more than 36 years. "When we started to come here, we started with basic tools and agricultural tools. That's a big change."
For newer exhibitors, the fair continues to open doors to international markets. At the 139th Canton Fair, an exoskeleton device helped an Argentine buyer with mobility difficulties stand up again, offering a glimpse of how Chinese technology can improve people's lives.
"The Canton Fair attracts huge crowds, more than any other exhibition we've seen," a representative of the exoskeleton maker said. "We never expected it to give us such a big boost, making us a household name nationwide while also attracting attention and orders from overseas markets."
Admission is free. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the Canton Fair and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. afterwards. Visitors can book through the Canton Fair's WeChat account and app or register on site.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Video | Pan Jiajun
