While a large crowd of visitors and buyers enjoyed authentic Chinese folk art, traditional handcrafts and exquisite cultural products, exhibitors expected to draw more buyers and have larger orders placed at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center on Thursday.

Exhibitors from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese mainland, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, displayed an array of products in Hall 1, from performance art to crafts with distinctive local characteristics. The cultural activities and products displayed included ethnic embroideries, garments, pottery and dances.

“This is overwhelming,” said David Jones, an artist from Chicago. “The fair showcases the most distinctive art and culture of many Chinese regions in a condensed way.”

He arrived in Shenzhen four days ago. He said he was lucky to have a chance to experience so much authentic Chinese culture in such a short time.

A Chinese visitor surnamed Gao enjoyed practicing a single-man dragon dance exhibited by a delegation from Hubei province.

“It’s interesting and easy to do,” Gao said. “Dancing the dragon dance is good exercise.”

The dragon-shaped object, called “Strength Dragon,” is designed based on ones used in local folk performances in Xiangyang city of Hubei, said Zhang Mengyun with the Xiangyang District Culture Center.

Differing from traditional dragon dances that require at least two skilled dancers, the Strength Dragon is easy to learn and can be performed by only one person of any age, Zhang said, adding that she hopes the fair can help introduce the innovative sport to more people.

Bai Yanmei from Yunnan province exhibited hand-made embroidery products of the Yi ethnic minority, including handkerchiefs, scarves, pillowslips and various ornaments. She said her company has participated in the fair for three consecutive years.