Gen Z students visit Bao'an pavilion at ICIF

Video by Zhao Xiaochen

Organized by Shenzhen Daily, the Gen Z International Student Broadcasters Group visited the Bao’an main exhibition area at the 22nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) on May 22.

A huge crowd is seen at the Bao'an pavilion at ICIF on May 22. Photos by Liu Xudong

International students from countries including the U.K., South Korea, India, and Russia explored the themed exhibition “Connecting the World Through Imaging · Shaping the Future with Digital Technology” at Hall 15 of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an.

Through a scenario-based display system, they experienced firsthand the vitality of new quality imaging and smart technology.

Bao’an pavilion showcases imaging industry ecosystem

International students try a Vivo smartphone on display.

As a co-organizing host of the Shenzhen main venue, Bao’an created a 300-square-meter exhibition area at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Cultural Industries Innovation Pavilion under the theme “Connecting the World Through Imaging · Shaping the Future with Digital Technology.”

Breaking away from traditional static displays, the exhibition area was designed as an “accessible, experiential, and interactive” industrial ecosystem platform, bringing together cutting-edge achievements from nearly 40 leading Bao’an-based firms, including Insta360, Unilumin, and Woan Technology, spanning digital creativity, artificial intelligence, and new quality imaging.

Visitors snap phots and try a Robotanno coffee maker.

At the entrance, cultural creative products featuring the national-level intangible cultural heritage “Shangchuan Huang Liansheng Awakening Lion” were displayed alongside promotional content for Bao’an’s cultural tourism virtual guide “Wanbao.”

The six immersive experience zones — Sonic Wonderland, Light & Shadow Reality, AI Vision, Smart Companion Life, Instant Print Vision, and Bao’an Cloud Studio — together with the independent “Infinite Imaging” space featuring holographic fan matrix technology and glasses-free 3D visuals, presented a comprehensive panorama of Bao’an’s rapidly developing imaging industry.

Videos by Jianzhen

Gen Z broadcaster group engages with cutting-edge technology

Upon entering the exhibition area, the broadcaster group was immediately drawn to the Insta360 cameras and FPV goggles in the “Sonic Wonderland” zone. Participants put on the goggles and experienced real-time aerial views of Shenzhen’s mountains and coastlines from a drone’s first-person perspective, with exhilarating dives and soaring movements creating a powerful immersive experience. Many also picked up Insta360 action cameras to take selfies and experiment with creative filming angles.

A visitor during a dance battle with Luming robot.

At the “Smart Companion Life” zone, upbeat music filled the air as a Luming robot danced gracefully to the rhythm. Several international students spontaneously stepped forward to dance alongside the robot, which responded dynamically by adjusting its movements, sparking an impromptu human-robot dance-off that drew cheers from the crowd. One participant later challenged the robot to a push-up contest, during which the robot performed a series of steady and precise push-ups to enthusiastic applause from visitors.

A student tries on an exoskeleton device.

Near the “Infinite Imaging” independent display space, an international student also tried on a lightweight exoskeleton device. After activating the assist mode, she walked briskly and moved with noticeable ease, remarking that the device made walking “much faster and less tiring.”

“Chinese technology is not only innovative, but also highly practical,” she said.

Bao’an builds an international exchange platform through culture-technology integration

The Bao’an exhibition area at this year’s ICIF not only showcased cutting-edge technological innovations, but also served as an important platform for international exchange and youth cultural dialogue.

From Insta360’s consumer-grade imaging hardware to the digital trading ecosystem of Guangchang, and from smart robots to wearable devices, Bao’an has established an imaging industry ecosystem covering hardware manufacturing, algorithm development, content production, transaction distribution, and end-user experiences.

Bao’an’s openness and global connectivity has left a lasting impression on members of the Gen Z students. Young people from diverse cultural backgrounds came together to experience and share Bao’an’s cultural and technological innovations with the world through social media and interactive storytelling.

Bao’an is leveraging the integration of culture and technology to foster innovations and inject momentum into building itself into a world-class cultural industry hub.