Destination: Shanghai
Textile World Asia Special Report
ShanghaiTex attracted some 1,400 exhibitors in 2005
- a number organizers hope to exceed this year.
S
hanghai — the largest city in China — will once again attract the attention of the global
textile industry when the 13th International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex 2007)
returns to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Shanghai Friday through Sunday, June 1-3,
from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Monday, June 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Visitors to the event, and the city, will no doubt come into contact with a feeling of old
and new. Though China is steeped in a traditional culture dating back more than 4,000 years, it is
today on the cutting edge of textile technology. Some say it is even undergoing a second industrial
revolution — business is booming due to a number of economic and political events in recent years.
The event, first held in 1984, is sponsored by the China Chamber of International Commerce
Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai
Sub-council and the Shanghai Textile Holding (Group) Corp. Organizers — including Hong Kong-based
Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., Shanghai International Exhibition Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Textile
Technology Service & Exhibition Centre — hope to attract more than the 1,400 exhibitors from 23
countries and areas, and 121,516 buyers from 60 countries and areas that attended the ShanghaiTex
held in 2005.
They hope too that textile executives and buyers will take note of the 41-percent export
growth China — the world’s most populous country — experienced in the first half of 2006 — that
statistic reflects the nation’s rapidly growing textile industry with respect to innovation.
Organizers report that textile machinery exports grew 40.84 percent at a value of US $565 million
in the first half of 2006, compared to the same period the year before. Textile machinery imports
have reached US $3.5 billion in the last three years, and domestic demand has remained steady at US
$8 billion since 2003.
ShanghaiTex 2007 exhibitors will occupy 120,000
square meters of floor space in nine exhibition halls.
Exhibitors
Exhibitors will be grouped into
thematic zones: Weaving Machinery; Spinning, Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Machinery; Knitting
and Hosiery Machinery; and Printing, Dyeing and Finishing Machinery; Group Participation; and Spare
Parts and Accessories. Organizers boast that ShanghaiTex is the first global textile show in China
to group exhibitors by product categories to provide visitors with more convenient access to
exhibitors.
Exhibitors will occupy 120,000 square meters of floor space — a 20-percent increase over
2005 — in nine exhibition halls. Knitting, hosiery, dyeing, printing and finishing will be located
in five halls of the West Wing of the expo center, while weaving, spinning, spare parts and
accessories will occupy four halls in the East Wing. They will represent the following sectors:
• weaving machinery;
• bleaching, dyeing, printing, finishing and making-up machinery;
• nonwoven fabric and tufting machines;
• fiber manufacturing machinery;
• knitting and hosiery machinery;
• apparel machinery and accessories;
• spinning machinery;
• yarn twisters, winders and accessories;
• textile chemicals;
• mill management instruments;
• software and information technology for the textile and garment industries;
• spare parts and accessories for textile and garment machinery; and
• testing and measuring equipment.
Venue Amenities, Locale
The Shanghai New International Expo Centre offers a number of services, such as a business center with full secretarial services, convenience stores and a flower store, among other amenities. The expo center is situated in Pudong's key economic development zone just beside the city's Inner Ring autoway. It is just 600 meters from the Longyang Road subway station and a seven-minute train ride to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Seeing Shanghai
ShanghaiTex will give visitors a
wonderful opportunity to see not only the latest textile innovations, but also the sights and
sounds of the bustling city of Shanghai. The traditional culture of China can still be seen amidst
the many modern-day shopping districts the city has to offer.
The attraction many visitors will first notice upon their arrival to the city is the Jinmao
Tower. Predominantly an office building, it also offers an 88th-floor observation deck — a nice way
to see the city before delving into its attractions.
The Jade Buddha Temple, built between 1911 and 1918, is one of the few active temples left
in Shanghai. It features a 2-meter-high white jade Buddha covered in jewels, reportedly weighing
1,000 kilograms.
The 16th century-era Yuyuan Gardens, which took 18 years to create, are a pleasing example
of Ming garden design. Visitors may see the Exquisite Jade Rock, destined for the imperial court in
Beijing until the boat carrying it sank outside Shanghai; and the Hall of Heralding Spring, former
headquarters of the Small Swords Society. The bazaar within the gardens offers souvenirs and
snacks. Outside the garden is the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse, one of the most famous in China. It
is connected to the gardens by a man-made lake and causeway that zigs and zags over the lake to
deter spirits, who, according to the Chinese, only travel in straight lines.
Located near the Yuyuan Gardens is the Fuyou Antique Market, which offers a permanent
collectibles market on its first and second floors, and opens up the third and fourth floors on
Sundays.
Visitors may also find the Huangpu River Cruise relaxing. This cruise — offered day and
night in one-, two- and 3.5-hour time blocks — features picturesque views of the Bund — the city’s
riverside shopping area.
For more information about ShanghaiTex, contact Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. +852-2811-8897; fax +852-2516-5024; www.2456.com/shanghaitex. To attend, contact Fiona Pang +852-2516-3348; publicity@adsale.com.hk. To exhibit, contact Eriko Chan or Candice Lau +852-2516-3354; textile@adsale.com.hk.
March/April 2007
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