Linyi ranks first among prefecture-level cities nationwide in exhibition area and number

Linyi in East China's Shandong province now ranks first among all Chinese prefecture-level cities in both total exhibition area and number of exhibitions held, and 21st nationwide on a composite index of exhibition industry development, according to figures released at the city's exhibition industry work conference.

In the first three quarters of 2026, the city hosted 129 exhibitions, 58 of them professional trade fairs, which generated a total transaction value of 18.33 billion yuan ($2.58 billion).

The exhibition sector has become a measurable driver of the local economy. In 2025, Linyi Trade City recorded 708.53 billion yuan in market transactions, 1.08 trillion yuan in logistics turnover and 124.52 billion yuan in foreign trade, up 7.3 percent, 7.5 percent and 8.5 percent year-on-year respectively. The city is home to 136 wholesale markets that supply the goods displayed at its fairs.

Efforts to raise the quality of exhibitions have concentrated on professionalization and international recognition. Linyi now has 15 exhibition projects certified by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), and the Linyi Wood Industry Fair has been organized on a market-driven basis since 2024, with industry associations and leading companies taking over the operational role previously held by government departments.

International sourcing has become a signature function. The fifth RCEP Regional (Shandong) Import Commodities Expo drew more than 400 international suppliers and over 5,300 professional buyers, attracting about 35,000 visitors, and was included in the Ministry of Commerce's "Shared Big Market, Exported to China" series of activities.

The city government said it will continue to shift the role of government from organizing fairs to setting standards and providing services, and will support exhibitions linked to Linyi's signature industry chains so that the exhibition economy and the manufacturing base reinforce each other.

Editor：韩蒙蒙