On the morning of October 15, the press conference for the 31st China International Decorative Lighting Exposition (Zhongshan Guzhen) (hereinafter referred to as the Guzhen Lighting Fair) was held in Guzhen Town, Zhongshan City. Ruan Zhili, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Mayor of Guzhen Town, Zhongshan City; Zhou Jintian, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Guzhen Town, Zhongshan City; Xu Wenlu, Deputy Mayor of Guzhen Town, Zhongshan City; and Lin Jiebo, Marketing Director of Zhongshan Guzhen Dengdu Expo Co., Ltd., attended the press conference. The press conference focused on introducing the preparations for the 31st Guzhen Lighting Fair and answered reporters' questions regarding the overall arrangement, preparation status, and unique highlights of the exhibition.
I. More than 3,500 high-quality enterprises gather in the Lighting Capital, setting a new record in scaleThe 31st Guzhen Lighting Fair is scheduled to grandly open on October 22, 2024. The exhibition will last for five days, until October 26. With the theme "Guzhen Decorative Lighting Illuminates the World," it focuses on three major positions: "professionalization, marketization, and internationalization," creating an integrated industry and trade platform that links exhibitions with stores, integrates exhibitions with online networks, and combines online and offline operations across the entire supply chain.It is reported that the number of exhibitors at the main venue exceeded 1,000 for the first time, reaching 1,029. Among them, 378 were from Guzhen town, accounting for 36.7% of the total; 651 were domestic exhibitors from outside the town, accounting for 63.3%, mainly from Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Shenzhen / Guangzhou / Foshan, and Dongguan. This Lighting Fair will implement real-name registration for all entrants. Before 12:00 noon on October 18, visitors who complete real-name pre-registration can waive the on-site registration fee of 100 yuan. All visitors to the main venue do not need to exchange for badges; they can enter by swiping their ID cards or using facial recognition. Overseas visitors need to bring their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents/Taiwan Compatriot Permit/Passport for on-site verification. As of 18:00 on October 14, 2024, the total number of real-name pre-registrations at the main venue exceeded 41,000, attracting over 5,800 people from more than 155 countries and regions to complete real-name pre-registration, with a Year-on-year (YoY) increase of 96.38%. 
II. Gathering Digital Intelligence + Originality, Promoting High-Quality Development of the Lighting and Decorative Lighting IndustryAs an important platform carrying the lighting and decorative lighting industry, the Guzhen Lighting Fair started as a "roadside exhibition", witnessing the glorious journey of Guzhen decorative lighting stepping out of China and going global, reflecting the "pattern change" in the upgrading of the lighting and decorative lighting industry, and continuously injecting energy into the high-quality economic and social development of Zhongshan and Guzhen. The 31st Lighting Fair will continue its innovative gene, comprehensively promote the qualitative leap of the Guzhen decorative lighting industry, and let Guzhen decorative lighting illuminate the world! (I) Larger Exhibition Area, Further Optimization of Exhibition Zone StructureThe main venue of this exhibition is located at the Guzhen Conference and Exhibition Center, jointly with 8 sub-venues including Lihe Lighting Expo Center, Huayi Plaza, Star Alliance, Dengdu Times Square, Guzhen Chang'an Lighting Accessories Electronic City, Caosan International Lighting Accessories City, Guyi Ruifeng International Lighting Accessories City, and Guyi Qingfeng LED Commercial Plaza, with a total exhibition area exceeding 1.5 million square meters. Among them, the total area of the main venue pavilions exceeds 58,000 square meters, an increase of 3,400 square meters compared to the previous session; a new comprehensive Hall H has been added to the west side of Hall A, focusing on gathering and displaying brands of "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" lighting and decorative lighting enterprises. Currently, all booths have been sold out. It is worth mentioning that the "Shenzhen-Zhongshan Brand Zone" in Hall A has been further upgraded. Compared with the Autumn Lighting Fair 2023, the booth area increased by 86.8%, and the number of exhibiting enterprises increased by 26.67%. It will comprehensively showcase the cutting-edge achievements of Shenzhen and Zhongshan in "product intelligence", "industry digitalization", and "trade innovation". The new cooperation models of "Shenzhen Headquarters + Zhongshan Manufacturing", "Shenzhen Chain Leader + Zhongshan Supporting", and "Shenzhen R&D + Zhongshan Commercialization" will be directly demonstrated.Three major industry trends: "Smart lighting, Green and Low-carbon, Integrated Innovation" – Covered in One ExhibitionMore than 100,000 exhibits are expected to be displayed on site, bringing together the full chain of lighting and decorative lighting products, including smart lighting, home lighting, commercial lighting, outdoor lighting, specialized luminaires, machinery and equipment, auxiliary materials and accessories. Combining the three major industry trends of "smart lighting, green and low-carbon, integrated innovation", we will comprehensively explore and showcase new application forms of light, fully reflecting the characteristic of "cutting-edge professionalism".This Lighting Fair will deeply explore the unlimited development potential of various cross-border and vertical markets. Through AI + IoT multi-dimensional technology integration, light + domain exploration, and cross-border integration and exchange, it will promote the intelligent transformation and upgrading of the lighting and decorative lighting industry.The multi-dimensional technology integration of AI + IoT explores the fusion of advanced technologies such as chip R&D and driver design, showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate IoT systems into lighting equipment to unlock the potential of light. The exploration of the light + domain focuses on core areas such as light health and green low-carbon, researching the direction of future lighting technology innovation, luminaire design, and system optimization, creating a healthier, more comfortable, intelligent, and environmentally friendly light environment for people. Cross-border integration aims to promote the fusion of lighting and decorative lighting with home life, production and operation methods, urban landscapes, and the cultural tourism industry, driving the implementation of cross-industry lighting applications.(3) More diverse supporting activities to strengthen the integration, sharing, and circulation of industry information and resourcesThis edition of the Lighting Expo continues to enrich business formats and expand functions, striving to create a professional exhibition integrating information exchange, trend analysis, innovation launches, and industry promotion. The organizers will collaborate with the Guangdong E-Commerce Association, adopting a "conference-driven exhibition" model to jointly host the "Guangdong (Zhongshan) Lighting Industry E-Commerce Resource Matchmaking Conference." On October 24 and 25, two events will be held separately: the "Guangdong (Zhongshan) Lighting Industry Cross-Border Expansion Conference" and the "Guangdong (Zhongshan) Lighting Industry New Business Growth Conference." A dedicated "E-Commerce Resource Matchmaking Zone" will also be added at the main venue, gathering well-known domestic and international cross-border e-commerce platforms, MCN agencies, service providers, etc., to help enterprises seize the dividends of cross-border e-commerce trade and strengthen the cross-border e-commerce industrial cluster.The Global Buyer Procurement Tour has been upgraded again, specially inviting high-quality professional buyer groups from Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and America to visit and purchase. Four major components are specially set up: welcome receptions, supply-demand matchmaking meetings, sub-venue guided tours, and cocktail networking sessions, to promote one-on-one pairing between buyers and sellers, facilitate fast and precise transactions, and achieve win-win cooperation. In addition, the organizers have specially set up a "Yiwu Special Session" for Yiwu purchasers specializing in lighting export trade, building an efficient communication bridge for cooperation between supply and demand sides.At the same time, numerous experts and scholars from the lighting industry, as well as leaders from leading enterprises, will be invited to hold hundreds of high-level professional forum activities on site. Focusing on themes such as new quality productive forces and the high-quality development of the lighting industry, new opportunities in global market strategies, and intellectual property protection, these forums will comprehensively strengthen the exchange and sharing of industry resource information, creating a high-level event for industry exchange and technological integration.(4) Further improvement of supporting service levelsThis edition of the Lighting Expo has made advance arrangements and implemented categorized measures to effectively improve supporting service levels and the participation experience for exhibitors and visitors.First, pre-registration ended early. To encourage advance planning and allow registrants to obtain personalized exhibition services ahead of time, pre-registration for this exhibition ended at 12:00 noon on October 18. Completing pre-registration waives the 100 yuan ticket fee. The main venue continues to implement "advance badge issuance" and "remote badge issuance." All visitors can complete online pre-registration and real-name authentication to reduce on-site queuing time, improve verification efficiency, and speed up entry. Domestic visitors can enter by swiping their ID cards and undergoing facial recognition; overseas visitors can present their electronic entry permits and valid identification documents at the counter to obtain paper visitor badges for entry.Second, supporting services were optimized. In terms of catering, the variety of food types and brands has increased to meet the dining needs of visitors from different cultural backgrounds. In addition, the conference will continue to provide a series of supporting services such as luggage storage, medical care, express delivery, and translation, and has introduced the Zhongshan Decorative Lighting Intellectual Property Rights Protection Center to work on-site, providing exhibitors with rapid intellectual property rights protection services.Third, transportation was optimized. Based on visitor needs, this exhibition will have temporary parking lots at Guzhen Railway Station, Dengwang Square, and under the West Ring Expressway Bridge on Gushen Highway diagonally opposite the Light Capital Guzhen Conference Center; parking lots inside the exhibition halls are reserved for exhibitor vehicles only. Starting October 21, the conference will operate multiple free shuttle buses from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to the sub-venues Lihe Lighting Expo Center and Huayi Plaza; during the exhibition period, free shuttle bus services will be provided from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Zhuhai Jinwan Airport, Zhongshan Expo Center (Shenzhen Channel Hub), Zhongshan Port Passenger Terminal, and Guzhen/Xiaolan Railway Stations. In addition, there are multiple direct special lines connecting various sub-venues within the town to the main venue. For visitors traveling by ride-hailing services or taxis, a temporary pick-up and drop-off point has been set up on the rightmost lane of Dongxing East Road next to the main venue to facilitate immediate stop-and-go.3. "Exhibition + Cultural Tourism", Jointly Writing a New Chapter in the Cultural Tourism EconomyDuring the exhibition, the Third Lamp Capital Cultural Carnival will be held simultaneously at Guzhen Town People's Square, featuring a variety of special activities over five consecutive days. These include the Guzhen Town "Cantonese Cuisine Chef" Skills Competition, the Opening Ceremony of the Third Lamp Capital Cultural Carnival and the Zhongshan City Employees' Grand Stage Guzhen Town Special Session, the Golden Earth Concert, and Cantonese Opera and Folk Art Evening Gala. At that time, national-level intangible cultural heritage projects such as Liufang Yunlong Dance and Cantonese Opera performances will be staged in rotation, fully showcasing the charm of Lamp Capital's local traditional culture. In addition, multiple A-level scenic spots and large commercial complexes within the town will be integrated and linked to launch consumption-promotion activities. A youth creative food market will be set up at People's Square, offering a full range of local delicacies such as Haizhou Fish Cakes and Ji Ji Wontons. Diverse scenarios will broaden the consumption experience and activate new potential for cultural and tourism consumption.
