The China International Consumer Products Expo – or the Hainan Expo – opened on May 7 in Haikou city in China's southernmost island province of Hainan and ran through to May 10.

It is regarded as a new platform to highlight China's mighty retail industry and it offered companies opportunities to diversify their marketing channels, according to business leaders and government officials.

Shanghai city in East China brought its leading products to the expo. Covering an area of about 300 square meters, the Shanghai pavilion was not the largest among the exhibition stands for many provinces, regions and cities – but it showcased the city's craftsmanship and technology that has flourished over a century, as well as its latest consumer trends.

The manufacturers of the Shanghai Longfeng Chinese Garment, a time-honored brand in Shanghai, brought their hand-made qipao, a traditional Chinese one-piece dress, to the expo.

The manufacturers of the Shanghai Longfeng Chinese Garment showcase their products at the Hainan Expo. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

"The longfeng – or dragon and phoenix qipao handicraft – is representative of Shanghai-style qipao-making skills. It has a history of nearly 100 years and has been listed on the national intangible cultural heritage list," explained Jiang Manzong, marketing director of Longfeng Chinese Garment.

"We still keep making innovations that follow market trends and meet young people's preferences," Jiang added.

In addition to its traditional image, the tech-savvy side of Shanghai was proudly on display.

Zhuang Qing, head of the Shanghai pavilion, said that the facility was dubbed "Shanghai, Let's Meet". A variety of new commercial modes – such as scene experiences and live streaming – were demonstrated at the site, creating a fashionable and vibrant Shanghai image.

The Shanghai pavilion at the Hainan Expo. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]