The 10th Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Cultural Industries Expo Fair opened on Aug 27 at the Inner Mongolia International Convention and Exhibition Center in Hohhot, bringing together cultural enterprises and creative products from China and abroad to showcase cultural vitality and innovation.

Running through Aug 31, the expo covers 20,000 square meters and features eight themed exhibition zones. More than 500 enterprises from over 20 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across China, as well as more than 10 countries and regions, are participating.

The expo's main exhibition zone highlights how Inner Mongolia's cultural industries and public cultural services have evolved since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). It illustrates the progress of local culture from preserving heritage and fostering creative transformation to wide development.

A showcase of award-winning works highlights the region's growing cultural and artistic influence. Featured productions include the dance drama Cavalry and the group dance Into the Light, which have won major national awards, along with films and literary works that tell stories of Inner Mongolia and its people.

Traditional craftsmanship is also in the spotlight, with leather carving, paper cutting, and printmaking demonstrating the living heritage of local traditions. Exhibits on the protection of archaeological discoveries, cultural relic replicas, and a mobile digital museum bring Inner Mongolia's history closer to the public. Popular cultural and tourism brands, including Ulan Muqir, "Inner Mongolia Gifts" and "Travel Inner Mongolia", are also featured.

Technology is another major highlight. A dedicated cultural technology zone brings together 17 leading digital technology companies from eight provinces and municipalities, showcasing applications such as digital art displays, artificial intelligence smart glasses, multilingual real-time translation, intelligent tour guides, and naked-eye 3D imaging.

Local enterprises are also presenting immersive digital projects that reinterpret Inner Mongolia's heritage. For example, the Yinshan Rock Art VR Theater takes visitors on an interactive journey back to the Stone Age through holographic imagery and virtual experiences.

Across the expo, cities and leagues of Inner Mongolia are displaying their distinctive cultural identities, from Hohhot's integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce to Baotou's industrial and Yellow River heritage, Hulunbuir's grassland culture, Xiliin Gol League's equestrian tourism, and Ulaanqab's integration of computing power and tourism.