In order to broaden the students’ international vision, enhance their understanding of the exhibition industry through action learning, and help them keep pace with industry developments, on October 19, the University of Waikato Joint Institute at Hangzhou City University (NZUWI) initiated the "International Convention and Exhibition Exploration" and organized Convention and Exhibition Economics and Management (BDM) students to visit the 18th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo.

Under the theme of “Creative Hangzhou,Connecting the World”, the exhibition this year set up five special pavilions, including “Mutual Learning-New World”, “Recycling-New Technology”, “Design-New Wave”, “Digital Creation-New Scene” and “Future-New Youth”, gathering more than 5,500 domestic and foreign cultural and creative brands.

Students' Experiences

BDM Class 2101 Wang Shiping:

Through the cultural charm and creative vitality of the event, I felt the rich and colorful cultures from all over the world, each unique yet integrated with one another. At the same time, all kinds of novel products enabled me to witness innovative and creative thinking, which is a reflection of the combination of technology and culture, boosting the development of cultural industries. In the future, I will be more attentive to sensing the charm of culture, take action to inherit and promote culture, and add fresh impetus to the excellent culture.

BDM Class 2202 Lou Shenhang:

I was deeply impressed by the 18th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industries Expo. In this exhibition, the integration of traditional culture and modern creativity not only showed the infinite vitality of China's cultural and creative industries, but also made me deeply appreciate the importance of cultural innovation. The combining of ancient skills and modern design concepts sparked new possibilities, which made me deeply interested in cultural and creative industries. At the same time, I also recognized the key role of cultural creativity in promoting economic development and enhancing cultural soft power. This experience has greatly broadened my horizons, and I look forward to seeing more innovations in the cultural and creative industries in the future.

BDM Class 2301 Chen Yiyu:

Visiting the 18th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industries Expo deeply made me feel the power of intermingling culture and creativity. At the exhibition, all kinds of exhibits from traditional handicrafts to modern digital art, all demonstrated the diversity and innovation within culture. Especially in the intangible cultural heritage zone, I came into close contact with many traditional skills that are on the verge of disappearing, feeling the craftsmen's persistence and love for cultural inheritance. In addition, the digital cultural and creative zone showed another way of cultural expression through VR, AR and other technologies, giving new vitality to ancient cultures. What impressed me most was that some local cultural brands combined traditional elements with modern design, allowing culture to come out of the “showcase” and integrate into daily life. The exhibition made me realize the important role of innovation in cultural inheritance, and inspired my strong interest in cultural creativity.

BDM Class 2302 Zhu Yuxin:

During my visit to the exhibition, I was deeply impressed by its excellent performance as a platform for cultural exchange, which not only expressed the core meaning of cultural exchange but also allowed me to learn a wealth of cultural knowledge and have novel experiences in a short period of time. At the exhibition, I was impressed by the immersive experience program: putting on AR glasses and stepping into a virtual ancient city, using modern technology to 'step into' history. The boundaries between old and new were broken, and cultures from different regions mingled with each other, showing unprecedented vitality. The combination of the essence of traditional culture and modern technology not only enriches our entertainment experience, but also promotes the wide dissemination of culture. I have seen how traditional culture has been refreshed after integrating new elements, which undoubtedly opens up a new path for cultural inheritance and development.