ICIF: The Road to One Global Culture


Harry Fozzard   |   October 7, 2021

China is one of the most geographically and culturally diverse nations in Asia. It has one of the largest variations in terms of food, custom, ethnicity and religion. It is also a fact, that China is one of the most culturally rich nations, threading heritage from one dynasty after another. China prides itself in maintaining and practicing their culture. No one is exempted from the experience. Every Chinese national has been taught to value and respect the richness of China, most importantly to live the way early Chinese have chosen to live.

A celebration of this awe-inspiring didactic opulence is held annually under the guise of International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF). The ICIF’s foremost principle is “exhibition and exchange”. It entails the establishment of a trading stage for Chinese cultural products and projects, as well as to ensure the promotion of its development and the diffusion of knowledge globally. The event highlights the advancement of “culture technology”, “culture tourism” and “culture trade”. The fair is also enlivened by the display of products and projects in culture creation, press and publication, film and television production, creative design, new media, digital content and animation games, intangible cultural heritage, painting and calligraphy art, arts and crafts and other similar fields of cultural industry. The event showcases century-old cultural heritage and antiquities, even the latest innovative value of its creations to adapt with the changing times.

The first ICIF was held in May 2004 and has been celebrated annually as a continued force and elaboration of China’s only national level globally extensive fair. The event is held at the Shenzhen Municipal Exhibition Center. It is hosted by the Ministry of Culture of the PRC, Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, General Administration of Press and Publication of the People’s Republic of China, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government. The fair occupies several halls to house every facet of their rich culture. It has one comprehensive hall, the China Cultural Industries Trade Hall and seven different ancillary halls that includes the digital Television and Animation Hall, the Gymnastic Industries Hall, the Creative Design Hall, the Press and Publication Halls 1 and 2, the Literature/Painting and Calligraphy Hall and the Arts and Crafts Hall.

The number of participants increases every year, with the inclusion of foreign exhibitors from all over the world. The organizers prepare more than a dozen topical forums attended by famous speakers who educate the entrepreneurial organizations and the genaral public at large. The 2011 ICIF will be held from May 13- 16, at the Shenzhen Municipal Exhibition Center and will be sponsored by the Shenzhen Press Group, Shenzhen Media Group, Shenzhen Publication and Distribution Group Company and the Shenzhen International Cultural Industry Fair Co. Ltd.

For further reading:

International Cultures Fair: How It All Began

ICIF: What’s in It for You

The ICIF 2011 –A Brief Guide to Overseas Buyers, Visitors and Exhibitors

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