Cartoon works exhibited and sold during the festival. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Also, each of its 12 venues is taking strict anti-epidemic measures, such as requiring visitors to wear masks, to ensure health safety.

Niu also revealed that nearly 1,000 original animated works from 19 countries and regions have applied to contend for the Golden Monkey Awards, the festival's top honor. The most highlighted candidates include Ne Zha, China's highest-grossing animated film of all time, and the Sino-US coproduction Abominable.

For the first time in 16 years, the awards will set a marketing sector, inviting investing and production companies, including China Animation Comic and Game Group, to create more business opportunities for the winners.

In spite of the COVID-19 blow, the festival sees the major potential of the Chinese animation and cartoon market, exemplified by drawing more than 200 enterprises from home and abroad.