The 13th Hangzhou Cultural & Creative Industry Expo (CCIE), one of China's biggest cultural and creative industry events, kicks off in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Sept 19. [Photo/IC]

The 13th Hangzhou Cultural & Creative Industry Expo (CCIE) opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Sept 19 and will last until Sept 23. Over 400 overseas cultural enterprises and institutions from 53 countries and regions are in attendance, a record high in China.

As one of China's biggest cultural and creative industry events, this year's gala features eight exhibition areas which cover a total of 70,000 square meters. The international exhibition area, in particular, has doubled in size since last year and accounts for 50 percent of the total area in the main venue.

Italy is the official guest country of honor at this year's expo and will organize a series of cultural exchange activities over the following several days.

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a 400-square-meter exhibition is featured at the expo, displaying over 70 exquisite artworks from 30 renowned artists.