Cartoon enthusiasts will soon have a good chance to access the latest cartoon and Internet game products, as well as hardware, software and new technology to be used for digital media. They will also see fashionable cartoon clothes, toys and decorations.

What's more exciting will perhaps be the "costume play," or "cosplay." There will be 20 real shows on the stage every day, that is, real persons playing the leading roles in cartoon stories.

All these will be available at a digital culture exhibition, which will take place along with the 2006 Nanjing Golden Autumn Economic and Trade Fair from September 19 to 21.

Characterized by internationalism, specialties, practicality and interaction, the 2006 China Nanjing International Digital Culture Exposition will display the latest cartoon products, Internet games and digital media technology, promote trade and communication in the digital cultural industry, attract investment, expand the international market and improve the capacity of the industry.

"We will turn Nanjing into a 'famous software city', while at the same time energetically developing the cultural industry. The emerging digital industry effectively links the software and cultural sectors," said Nanjing Vice-Mayor Jin Daoqiang.

The expo will have a showroom of 15,000 square meters at the Nanjing International Exhibition Centre, divided into five theme areas, including trade of digital media technology and products, digital interaction and entertainment products, high-tech education, digital culture derivative products, and interactive activities.

Some 100 technology and equipment providers will take part in the expo, including big names such as Motorola, NEC, Sony, Siemens, Nokia, Huawei and ZTE.

Besides the exhibition of various digital technology and products, an original animation contest will be jointly launched by China Academy of Art, Beijing Film Academy, China Media University, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and Shandong Luxun Academy of Fine Arts.

These institutions of higher learning will unveil their own original works in animation and will also participate in the International Digital Arts Communication Forum.

With the purpose of promoting digital culture, the expo will set up a platform for the exhibition and trade of digital technology, audio and video entertainment programs, as well as video services, by exploiting the characteristics of China's unique digital culture.

It aims to facilitate the integration of China's Internet industry and the nation's traditional cultural industry, creating an all-new digital cultural dimension.

The event is sponsored by Jiangsu provincial government and co-organized by Nanjing municipal government and the provincial department of foreign trade and economic cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2006)