From "Visible" to "Interactive" The 20th Year of Hangzhou International Cultural Expo

China News Service, Hangzhou, November 6. Title: From “visible” to “interactive”, the 20th year of the Hangzhou Cultural Expo

Author Lin Bo Cao Dan

Reach out and touch it, and it will respond with its eyes. After touching it for a long time, the eyes slowly closed, as if they were asleep.

This is an AI companion robot at the 20th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo (hereinafter referred to as "Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo").

From November 5th to 9th, the Hangzhou Cultural Expo was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions and nearly 6,000 domestic and overseas cultural and creative brands gathered here.

Walking through the exhibition halls, it is not difficult to find that cultural creativity is moving from "visible" to "interactive".

The person who brought this AI companion robot was a local company in Hangzhou. According to reports, this is currently the smallest AI companion product in China, only the size of a palm. The robot's camera is aimed at the human face and can identify the user's current emotions and respond through five layers of eye animation.

"This robot can provide feedback to the user through vision, hearing, and touch." Wang Qi, business manager of the product production company, said that the robot's emotional engine, multi-modal model, and intent recognition were all independently developed by the company.

Robots are moving from skill demonstrations to daily life, and more and more tourists are willing to pay for such products.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hangzhou Cultural Expo. In 2025, the added value of Hangzhou's cultural industry will reach 363.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.6%; in the first half of 2026, cultural enterprises above designated size will achieve operating income of 618.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.12%.

Only with a solid industrial foundation can innovative products have the soil to grow. Starting from 2025, Hangzhou will launch "Hangzhou New Technology Specialty Products" driven by science and technology, covering fields such as smart life, health management, digital cultural creation, etc., and packaging the technologies developed by enterprises into "city souvenirs".

In addition to purchasing products directly, many tourists also want to take away the memory of the immersive experience.

"Shan Hai Song" is an XR exhibition with the theme of Southern Song Dynasty. Put on your glasses and you will see the West Lake, Qiantang River and Imperial Street in front of you during the Southern Song Dynasty 800 years ago.

"In addition to the scene restoration, we have also set up a plot line. Visitors will follow the fictional protagonist Ye Zai to explore cases and solve mysteries." said Zhou Jin, a staff member of Zhejiang Starlight Film and Television Group.

After the experience, visitors can select derivative cultural creations from the "Mountains, Seas and Songs" series in the exhibition area, including refrigerator magnets and color cards printed with traditional Chinese patterns and scenic spots in the West Lake of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Sun Yi, a tourist from Shanghai, purchased a set of Southern Song Dynasty-themed refrigerator magnets. "I didn't know that the Broken Bridge was red during the Southern Song Dynasty." She said that this set of four-season refrigerator magnets restored the style of Hangzhou during the Southern Song Dynasty. "It is worth remembering and is very consistent with the XR experience just now."

In the 20th year of the Hangzhou Cultural Expo, the "interactivity" in the exhibition hall does not only come from machines - it has increasingly become a platform for cultural and creative encounters from all over the world.

In the "Young Pharaoh Under the Golden Mask" exhibition area, replicas of the golden mask, Pharaoh's throne, coronation scepter and crown and other exhibits are placed in the projection interactive space, unfolding the picture of ancient Egyptian life more than 3,000 years ago.

Ye Yufei, deputy director of Hangzhou Guansheng Culture, said that this exhibition area has four major sections: replicas of Egyptian cultural relics, AIGC experience integrating Hangzhou elements, immersive fragrance experience, and ancient Egyptian costumes restored according to the shape of three thousand years ago.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. We hope to use this exhibition to promote cultural exchanges between China and Egypt." she said. A set of historical comparison pictures are specially arranged in the exhibition area: the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt where Tutankhamun lived roughly corresponds to the Shang Dynasty in China, forming a dialogue across time and space.

In the exhibition area, Egyptian local products are displayed together with Chinese limited-edition dolls of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, Anubis and Hippopotamus jointly created by China and Egypt, attracting tourists to buy.

Swiss exhibitor Eugene Fox has come to Hangzhou for the second time. The bags he designs and make are made from old truck tarpaulins, car seats, and subway seat fabrics, which are then cut and sewn.

"We have been hand-making bags for 25 years, hoping to bring a different warmth to everyone." He said that at the Hangzhou Cultural Expo, he felt the city's love and protection of culture, "This coincides with my luggage creation concept."

Indonesian exhibitor Karina participated in the Hangzhou Cultural Expo for the first time. Her stall was filled with Indonesian cultural and creative products such as batik fabrics, traditional musical instruments, and handicrafts.

"I know that this is one of the largest cultural and creative expos in China. We hope to showcase Indonesian creativity to Hangzhou and global audiences." She said that she also plans to visit exhibition areas in other countries in her free time to "feel the similarities and differences in the cultures of different regions."