A delegation of international buyers attending the 138th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in south China's Guangzhou City embarked on an immersive cultural and business tour of the historic Yuexiu District on Sunday, deepening their understanding of the city while exploring potential commercial partnerships.
The delegation includes representatives from Australia, Pakistan, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
Their visit began at the Wuxian Guan (Temple of the Five Immortals), a centuries-old site steeped in local legend and historical significance. Delegates also toured key heritage landmarks such as The First Tower of Lingnan and the Poshan Ancient Ferry, tracing the origins of Guangzhou, one of China's oldest trading ports and a key node on the Maritime Silk Road.
The group participated in a hands-on experience of the Lingnan Guqin, a traditional Chinese musical art form recognized as intangible cultural heritage, offering them a window into the richness of Cantonese culture.
"I hope we'll have the opportunity to bring Guangzhou's intangible cultural heritage and its broader cultural development achievements to Australia," said Wang Guozhong, president of the Australian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce.
"I come from Sydney, Australia. And I'd like to thank you very much for this opportunity to come to the [Wuxian] temple today, and to learn more about your culture. I think it's fantastic," said Paul Mcintyre, an advisor to the Australian Center for China Global Trading, speaking to a reporter.
Following the cultural segment, the delegation visited the Guangzhou Electronic Appliances Chamber of Commerce, where they toured a showcase hall featuring cutting-edge semiconductor and electronic products. The venue serves as a one-stop sourcing hub, bringing together many manufacturers and suppliers under one roof.
"Maybe you can choose, you can find the best supplier here. And it's a good gathering -- all the items you can find here for the electric (industry), and I think it's a good idea," said an Iranian buyer.
"The visit today has been quite pivotal in bridging a relationship between understanding more about Guangzhou," said a UAE purchaser.
Chamber President Zeng Bin highlighted the mutual benefits of such exchanges.
"Hosting international guests like this is also a way for our members to 'go global'. Many of our member enterprises have already conducted cooperation with partners in Southeast Asia and neighboring countries," said Zeng.
Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.
The first phase of the 138th Canton Fair already concluded on Sunday, with a record 157,000 overseas buyers attending in person.
The second phase is scheduled to run from Oct 23 to 27, followed by the third phase from Oct 31 to Nov. 4.
Canton Fair buyers seek business opportunities through cultural, tech engagement
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
