Although there are more than 60 days before the start, residents in Hangzhou have already hinted at "a sumptuous feast" to be provided at the exposition.

With two successful experiences of holding the same fair - in 1929 and last year - this year's exposition will aim to excite the public with even more varied and colourful activities.

At least 46 items will be set out at the exposition, including trade, real estate, tea, arts, silk, Chinese traditional medicine, information and high-tech.

"Many of them will be new for this year," said Feng Jun, deputy secretary of the municipal government.

Apart from traditional items, such as many high-level seminars and a number of international exhibitions on information products, urban environment, housing, furniture, clothing, automobiles and electric products, for the first time the exposition will also host the First China Tourism Products Exchange, Zhejiang Foreign Economic and Trade Co-operation Symposium, China Cotton Cloth Art Exhibition and China Autumn Book Fair .

"It will be a hugely characteristic exposition, showing people not only about the city's highly developed economy but also about our cultures, whether traditional or modern," he said.

According to the organizing committee, the first International Symposium of Chinese Traditional Medicine will be an attraction at the exposition.

Owning China's only State-level Museum of Chinese Traditional Medicine, the city boasts a rich history of traditional Chinese pharmacology, and has a number of such nationally famous corporations.

The forum has invited more than 500 medical experts from all over the world, who will have the best knowledge of the traditional culture of China.

In art, the International Sculpture Exhibition will place works of domestic and foreign masters inside the Gushan Hill Garden, so that the sculptures are in harmony with the beautiful surroundings.

At the provincial museums and art galleries, several hundreds of ancient antiques, as well as painting and calligraphy works from some of the most eminent masters in history, will be displayed and put on auction.

A China Silk Festival will introduce the first Chinese traditional mandarin gown seminar during the exposition, inviting some of the country's best designers and related experts. Visitors may also be invited to try embroidery on a huge piece of silk cloth.

(China Daily 08/14/2001)