Zhao Yonghong chose to step 'out' of the exhibition hall at the 134th China Import and Export Fair (hereafter referred to as 'Canton Fair').

On the morning of October 24, at the Pearl River Promenade inside the Canton Fair Complex, a booth featuring foreign models wearing Chinese cheongsams showcasing luggage and porcelain products displayed on its backdrop attracted many overseas buyers to come forward for inquiries.

Zhao Yonghong received them one by one, exchanging contact information with them as much as possible.

'It’s better than the previous session. There are also more overseas buyers than before. Some old friends came back to see us, and we’ve made new friends too,' Zhao said. This long‑missed bustling atmosphere, more importantly, has brought back 'confidence'.

Zhao Yonghong is the person in charge of the aforementioned 'Tingxu Creation' booth.On the same day, she told a reporter from Economic Observer that her company, Guangzhou Tianzong Industrial Co., Ltd., has been engaged in foreign trade for more than 20 years.Tingxu Creation, the company’s 'China‑Chic' brand, was founded in 2021 during the COVID‑19 pandemic, when the company’s export orders were almost completely interrupted.

'We are veterans of the Canton Fair, having participated for 17 years and 34 sessions. Export orders are still in the recovery stage, and the team is being rebuilt. In the future, we will focus more on our own brand, with clear directions for product R&D and positioning,' Zhao Yonghong stated.

The second phase of the 134th China Import and Export Fair was held in Guangzhou from October 23 to 27.According to the Canton Fair Press Center, this phase adopts the theme concept of 'Home Living', covering three professional sectors: building materials and furniture, household products, gifts and decorations. It highlights exhibitors that adopt breakthrough or industry‑leading new materials, new technologies, and new techniques, demonstrating innovation and industrial transformation and upgrading.

For the home furnishing industry, the external environment this year has not been optimistic.

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that in US dollar terms, from January to September this year:

· Exports of furniture and parts totaled approximately 46.5 billion, down 9% year‑on‑year;

· Ceramic products totaled around 19.3 billion, down 13.6%;

· Lamps, lighting fixtures and parts reached about 31.4 billion, down 5.4%.

Yet as Zhao Yonghong put it, confidence is returning.

On the evening of October 26, the Canton Fair Press Center released data showing that as of 17:00 that day, the cumulative number of overseas buyers attending the fair exceeded 155,000, an increase of more than 50% compared with the same period of the previous session.

On the same day, data released by the Ministry of Commerce at a regular press conference also indicated that as of October 25, the cumulative number of overseas buyers at the 134th Canton Fair had increased by 3.2% compared with the pre‑pandemic level (the 2019 Autumn Canton Fair).