Canton fair is still the best gateway into the Chinese market

As the largest trade show in China, the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, is scheduled to put on its 113th Session in 2013 in 3 phases: Phase 1 - April 15-19, Phase 2 - April 23-27, Phase 3 - May 1-5, in China Import and Export (Pazhou) Complex. Each phase will last 5 days with a 3-day interval in between.

The number of foreign buyers at the Canton Fair underlines weak global demand, as the eurozone debt crisis hampers the dull recovery.
However, the fair is still the best gateway into the Chinese market, with participants continuing to value the opportunities it offers in terms of the quality of products and business intelligence.

The Guangdong museum of Art selected belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen

The Guangdong museum of Art (Guangzhou, China) selected belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen as central artist in their 'Inauguration Exhibition of the Fourth Guangzhou Triennial' titled 'Back to Basics - The Museum Per Se'. For this expo, the artist created an site-specific installation called  'Modified Spaces'. An installation about the balance between nature and humans and about transformation. You can travel to The Guangdong Museum of Art if you come to attend Canton Fair 2013.

The theme of the Triennial is straight forward, despite its suggestion of obscurity. Its title, the Unseen, a simple term with easy access, is a point of departure for a vast range of possible meanings that touch on the complexity of ways of seeing, blindness and envisaging, especially with respect to visual art. The Unseen refers to the limitations of our sensory organs, the narrow confines of human perception on the one hand; on the other, paradoxically, it gives rise to observations that transcend familiar experience.
The Fourth Guangzhou Triennial is set in three different areas, each area serving a different function: the Guangdong Museum of Art, as an exhibition space, the Guangzhou Opera House, as a performance space, and the Grandview Mall—one of the largest shopping centres in Southern China—as a public, non-museum space.

The Mazu palace in Nansha was first built in the Ming Dynasty

  Mazu is usually depicted together with two guardian generals known as “Thousand Miles Eye” and “With-the-Wind Ear”. Though their iconography can vary, both are usually represented as fierce demons; “Thousand Miles Eye” is often red with two horns, while “With-the-Wind Ear” is green with one horn. They are said to have been two demons whom Mazu conquered and subdued, turning them into her own loyal guardians and friends. The Canton fair 2013 will be helded in Guangzhou, maybe you can go to Nansha Tian Hou Palace if you have a time.

  The Mazu palace in Nansha was first built in the Ming Dynasty, then was renovated during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1737-1795) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), but was later ruined. The palace we see now was rebuilt in 1994 and completed in 1996.
  After entering the gate, you will come to the Hall of Blessing where a statue of Tianhou is honored. She is procted by four Dragon Kings (the Gods of the sea) holding up a jade tablet and standing at each side. Then you will come to the Main Hall, the center of the whole palace. In the hall, two statues of Tianhou are honored in a shrine. One is 3.8 meters (about 12.5 feet) in height, plated and carved from the fragrant sandalwood. The other is noted as 'soft-body' statue, whose hand and foot joints are movable. The entire Main Hall is full of a sense of benevolence and majesty, rectitude and holiness. Behind it, you will see the resting Hall, the living room of the Goddess of Tianhou, where a sitting sculpture of Tianhou is displayed together with some simple instruments of her daily life.

South of the Shangxiajiu are several markets

  South of the Shangxiajiu are several markets, alleyways and avenues like the Qingping Market. The outdoor and indoor area of this market stretches over an area of around 1000 meters and is a great place to find various good deals. Visitors will find several interesting items in this market such as Chinese products like medicines, dried herbs, scorpions, snakes, artwork, pets, nuts and seafood among other bizarre items. If you come to attend the Canton Fair 2013, maybe you can travel to Shangxiajiu by the way.

  Walking into this street, you will see the featured Qi Lou, an old building style that exists in Guangzhou and its neighboring areas, on both sides of the road. It reflects the strong Lingnan Culture. On this street lie more than 200 stores, especially those brand name restaurants and teahouses open here. From 13:00 to 21:00 on weekends and holidays and on every night, Shangxia Jiu Lu is restricted to pedestrians only.