The 21st Hunan International Chinese Antiques Fair concluded in Changsha on February 24, 2019. Despite a recent sluggish antique market, the fair attracted crowds of professional and amateur collectors. More than 3,000 exhibitors and over 50,000 collectors participated. There were about 200,000 exhibits. Sales reached 370 million CNY, 20 million more than the spring session last year.  

 

More than 30 state-owned antique stores displayed a large batch of high-quality antique artworks. The prices were reasonable, even lower than the market average. 

 

“Quality-orientation is an obvious trend for this fair,” said Zheng Liming, chairman of the Chinese Artwork Research Society. “The Hunan antiques fair has a solid foundation, and trends to be brand and quality-oriented. This is an important reason why the fair has maintained a steady growth despite the sluggish antique market,” he added. 

 

2019 is the first year of Hunan’s integrated development of cultural industry and tourism. During the fair, the Hunan Antiques Store provided new services – recommending cultural tourist programs in Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, which were well received among the exhibitors. 

 

The Hunan Antique Store holds antique fairs twice a year, in spring and autumn. Between 2009 and 2018, 20 antique fairs have had sales of 4 billion CNY. Related profits in transportation, accommodation, catering, shopping, entertainment, and sightseeing, reached 24 billion CNY. This year’s related profits should be an estimated 2.2 billion CNY.

 

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

 

Translator: Pang Yuehui

 

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan