Exterior of the new Shenyang (China) New World EXPO.
The Shenyang New World EXPO (EXPO), northeastern China’s newest meeting and exhibition venue, has announced its exhibition lineup for the venue’s opening March 1, 2017.
Located in the capital city of Liaoning province, EXPO includes 258,000 square feet of exhibition space and an additional 43,000 square feet of convention, meeting and banquet space.
EXPO’s inaugural exhibition, scheduled for March 1-3, will be DPES Sign & LED. Organized by Guangzhou Xuanhua Exhibition Co., Ltd., the exhibition combined with several industry associations this past year and built up a trading platform for the sign equipment industry in northeast China.
The 19th Northeast Dental Equipment Expo March 16-19 and the 23rd Northeast China Building Decoration Expo March 23-25, which will focus on energy conservation, environment protection and sustainable development, are both organized by Northern Industry and Business Exhibition Co., Ltd. (NIBE).
Opening the second month of EXPO operations will be the 2017 China (Shenyang) Auto Fair Expo on April 1-4, organized by Liaoning Diwosite Exhibition Co. Ltd. The event is expected to have the participation of exhibitors representing nearly 70 auto brands with more than 500 models on display.
Rounding out the initial opening exhibitions will be the 19th Northeast China Public Security Products Expo April 20-22, organized by Liaoning Great Wall Exhibition Co. Ltd. With attendance anticipated to be 25,000, it has become the largest regional security exhibition.
A soft opening will take place between September and March and include various smaller events, such as weddings, gift shows, receptions and corporate socials. This includes the 60th anniversary of the Urban Planning Society of China, Sept. 24-26.
“[For the urban planning event,] we’re expecting 7,000 delegates from China, primarily government employees who are in municipal planning departments,” said Cliff Wallace, chairman of Shenyang New World EXPO (Management) Ltd. (SML).
Construction on the EXPO began in 2010 and includes more than 15 million square feet of construction in an area bordering the Central Business District with a total cost of $5 billion. The venue includes two exhibition halls, one with more than 216,000 square feet and the other, 39,820 square feet. Both are divisible and directly accessible by trucks or by way of multiple freight lifts from an internal truck marshaling area. EXPO also includes a multipurpose 17,222-sq.-ft. convention hall and 17 meeting rooms ranging from 538 to 5,866 square feet.
The project includes 2.5 million square feet of retail space. “This is not a traditional shopping mall, as it’s more upscale with high-end art and oriented toward educating children with plant and small animal exhibits,” said Wallace.
Two hotels will adjoin the EXPO as well as three furnished apartment complexes and two office towers.
General manager Diane Chin said her main objectives will be to develop an evolving range of businesses and services to maximize EXPO’s revenue potential and achieve competitive advantages in the local and regional exhibition and conference market.
“EXPO will be a venue that is positioned to enhance the reform of China’s exhibition and meeting industry, especially as a second tier market consistent with recent guidelines established by China’s State Council,” said Chin.
Established Feb. 21 of this year, the urban planning guidelines were developed to address problems associated with increasing urbanization and growth of China’s cities. Under the new regulations, China’s cities are no longer allowed to grow beyond what natural resources can support, and odd-shaped buildings are forbidden.
“This concept will be offered in other second tier cities in China,” said Wallace. “Once municipal officials and leaders see this project, we think it will be a wonderful example of what can be done to enhance industry and quality of life in a city.”
EXPO is owned by New World (Shenyang) Property Development Limited (NWPDL). SML is under a management and operating contract with NWPDL and a member of the NWS Holdings Ltd group of companies which include Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd.
Interviewed for this article: Diane Chin, 86 24 25815588; Cliff Wallace, 852 2582 7800