Guanshanhu powers urban growth through MICE economy

The 2025 China Guizhou International Energy Industry Expo attracts many visitors. [Photo/Guanshanhu Media Center]

Guiyang's Guanshanhu district is utilizing its robust exhibition infrastructure to fuel the rapid development of its meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) economy.

Home to top-tier national events like the Guiyang International Big Data Industry Expo, Eco Forum Global Guiyang, and China (Guizhou) International Alcoholic Beverages Expo, along with prominent provincial and specialized exhibitions, Guanshanhu has cultivated a dynamic and diverse exhibition ecosystem.

In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the district added three MICE enterprises, introduced two new branded events, and hosted four major exhibitions.

A highlight of this year is the debut of the 2025 China (Guiyang) Inaugural Expo City Land, Sea & Space Defense and Military Exhibition, which showcased over 500 exhibits across 20,000 square meters. The event exemplifies Guanshanhu's effective coordination between government agencies and enterprises, with financial and technical support ensuring smooth execution.

To enhance cross-sector collaboration, the district established the "MICE+ Industry Integration Platform" in 2023. The platform now includes over 30 businesses across the exhibition, hospitality, and service sectors. It fosters resource sharing and has hosted over 10 exchange and matchmaking events. Seven new enterprises joined the platform in April 2025 alone.

The China (Guiyang) Inaugural Expo City Land, Sea & Space Defense and Military Exhibition is held in Guiyang. [Photo/Guanshanhu Media Center]

Further strengthening its foundation, Guanshanhu launched the "MICE+ Talent Station" and a co-shared innovation space on April 1. These initiatives aim to link academia with industry and drive integration with emerging fields such as low-altitude aviation and artificial intelligence. The opening event saw strong participation and resulted in 17 strategic partnership agreements focusing on talent development and industrial cooperation.

Guizhou University of Commerce also signed multiple agreements to co-develop exhibition talent pipelines, supporting a shift from reactive to forward-thinking education models that anticipate industry needs.

The district's efforts are translating into tangible economic benefits. At the recent China Guizhou International Energy Industry Expo, held on May 18–20, 80 percent of participants came from outside the region. It led to over 7,000 hotel rooms at 11 local hotels being booked, giving a significant boost to the hospitality sector. The event also featured a targeted job fair offering 862 positions in energy-related fields, leading to 397 confirmed job placements.

By continuously enhancing its MICE ecosystem and deepening industry integration, Guanshanhu is effectively transforming exhibition traffic into long-term economic momentum, reinforcing its status as a rising hub for modern service industries.