The International Gem Expo opened on May 18 in Changle, the gem city of China. The opening of the China Sapphire Museum also marked the event.

In the main exhibition hall, there were 1,000 standard and special booths that displayed jewelry composed of gold, silver and jade.

Six thematic activities will also be conducted at the 2013 International Gem Expo: the Jewel Night series activities, special tourism projects, exhibition and rating of Changle watermelons, and display of famous Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

The discovery and exploitation of sapphires in Changle was recognized as one of the five greatest discoveries on colored gemstones by the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) in 1989.

The sapphire mining area in Changle is 450 square kilometers large, making it the biggest sapphire mine in China, and one of the four biggest sapphires mines in the world.

The sapphire industry is a landmark for Changle , which also boosts the local economy.

The vice chairman of All-China Environment Federation, Zeng Xiaodong, inaugurated the exposition. The former vice governor of Shandong province also attended the opening ceremony.