The first Yunnan Cultural Industry Expo, which will open at the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center on August 9, will enable people to exchange ideas, learn about Yunnan's intangible cultural heritage, and enjoy delicacies from Yunnan and other provinces.

The expo aims to provide a channel where culture and industry are accessible to each other, according to Pu Yueying, vice-director of the office of the Kunming cultural industries development leading group. In the past, works from designers would be laid aside after the show. To change this situation, the expo will allow enterprises that need creative designs to choose what they want from solicited designs and pay royalties on the spot. Designers can also transform their ideas into products that directly target the market.

So far, the organizing committee has collected nearly 200 creative design pieces. There are costumes from Miao ethnic groups in Xiaoshuijing, Fumin county; architectural designs of the Yunnan Tea Culture Museum; and slogans for tourism promotion in Lintong (a district of Xi'an). Creative ideas range from clothing designs, industrial designs, and internal designs to ethnic handicraft designs.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of intangible cultural heritage will be held in the No 2 hall at the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center. Silver-inlaid black copper, modeling dough sculptures, silk figures, bamboo carvings and many other handicrafts will be on display. Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, like Yunnan-style kite maker Dai Yongqing and sugar painter (using hot, liquid sugar to create two dimensional figures) Cheng Fangyuan, plan to present their unique skills during the exhibit.

Food is another important part of Yunnan culture. There are 26 ethnic minorities in Yunnan, each with its own distinct cuisine. Dishes in Yunnan have deep cultural origins and are a living history of the ethnic groups. A delicacies area will be set outside the venue. Visitors can enjoy delicious food from over 600 time-honored brands in China and taste Yunnan specialties like rice noodles.