Various artificial flowers can be seen at the 9th National Wedding Props, Festive Supplies, Artificial Flowers and Commercial Display (Yiwu) Fair. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

The 19th National Wedding Props, Festive Supplies, Artificial Flowers and Commercial Display (Yiwu) Fair, opened on March 4 at the Yiwu International Expo Center and will run until March 6.

As the first major exhibition in Yiwu after the Spring Festival, the event saw a significant turnout, with nearly 1,000 participating enterprises and an exhibition area of 54,500 square meters.

The fair set a new record with its expanded scale, featuring top brands and manufacturers from across the country in wedding props, artificial plants, and festive supplies. Exhibitors like Tianjin Gaodejiang Artificial Flowers Co Ltd reported exceeding sales expectations, reflecting a recovering economy and increasing demand.

The event also highlighted advancements in artificial flower and plant technology, with products so lifelike they are often preferred over fresh flowers for their durability and cost-effectiveness. International buyers are increasingly turning to these artificial alternatives for decorating spaces like kitchens and conference rooms.

Organized by Shandong Yachang Exhibition Service Co Ltd, the fair is expected to attract 60,000 professional buyers and generate transactions worth 700 million yuan ($97.23 million). The concurrent 2024 China Christmas Decorations and Spring Festival Supplies Trade Fair aims to capitalize on Yiwu's status as the world's largest Christmas product production base, helping local businesses tap into global markets.

Since its inception in 2009, the trade fair has been held 18 times, with a cumulative exhibition area of 473,000 square meters and approximately 12,300 exhibitors.

It has arranged for professional visitors from Western Europe, North America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and all 34 provincial-level administrative regions of China, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, reaching 590,000 attendees and facilitating over 2 billion yuan in intended transactions. It is also the first wedding prop exhibition in China to be certified by the UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.