The annual China (Wuxi) International Culture and Art Industry Fair opens at the Taihu International Expo Center in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Oct 11.

Covering 47,000 square meters, this year's fair will be themed "promote cultural identification, gain new momentum" and will last until Oct 15. The exhibition area will be divided into two parts with 12 themed areas, featuring arts and crafts, and cultural innovation products.

Some 896 exhibitors from 17 countries will showcase their cultural products, including works from students of Jiangnan University, metro-themed cultural items, "Yohood" pop art works and individual brands from Taiwan province.

One of the fair's highlights will be works themed on the "40th anniversary of China's opening". Exhibition organizers have selected 187 pieces on historical events, people's livelihoods and beautiful scenery rendered by well-known artists.

Huang Qin, acting mayor of Wuxi, stressed the importance of the culture industry in the city. In 2017, the culture industry in Wuxi produced 45 billion ($6.5 billion) of value-added revenue, amounting to 4.28 percent of GDP. "The annual culture and art industry fair is supposed to be a platform to strengthen cultural cooperation in different regions and connections between each field of the arts, helping to build the city's culture brands such as 'Chinese Hollywood'," Huang said.

Many sideline activities will also take place at the fair, including signing ceremonies during the opening for about 20 major cultural industry projects. This event will be a first for the fair.

Organized by the Jiangsu provincial department of culture and the Wuxi municipal government, the China (Wuxi) International Culture and Art Industry Fair has been held annually since 2011 and is the only cultural fair in Jiangsu.