Ningbo's cultural corner draws crowds at Thailand trade show

Visitors explore a Ningbo-themed cultural corner at the MEGA SHOW Bangkok trade fair in Bangkok. [Photo/Yongpai app]

A small cultural display from Ningbo became an unexpected highlight at MEGA SHOW Bangkok 2026 in Thailand, attracting hundreds of visitors and helping local companies forge connections that went beyond business. 

Held from July 15 to 17 at Bangkok's Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the trade fair is one of Southeast Asia's leading sourcing events for consumer goods. More than 100 companies from Ningbo joined nearly 1,000 exhibitors from across Asia.

Alongside product displays, organizer Zhou Qian set up a modest Ningbo cultural corner featuring traditional Chinese handicrafts from the city, including decorative Chinese knot buttons, paper-cut lanterns, folding fans, and a Ningbo-themed puzzle.

The display quickly became a gathering point for buyers curious about the city behind the products. Zhou and fellow exhibitors introduced visitors to landmarks such as Tianyi Pavilion, one of Asia's oldest private libraries, and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world's busiest port by cargo throughput.

One of the most popular items was a scroll from a traveling seal-carving art exhibition project organized by the renowned Xiling Seal Society. Combining traditional Chinese seal impressions with cultural symbols from different countries, the artwork offered overseas visitors a glimpse into Chinese heritage through the centuries-old art of seal carving.

What began as a small cultural showcase soon became a collaborative effort. Exhibitors from neighboring Ningbo companies volunteered to explain local traditions, demonstrate stamping activities, and share stories about the city with international visitors.

Over the three-day event, the culture corner attracted more than 200 buyers. Some later contacted exhibitors to order cultural products as gifts, highlighting how cultural exchange can create new opportunities alongside trade.

As Zhou put it, "Orders build business, but culture builds connections."