Shanghai's Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trade Center, also known as Hongqiao 365, is injecting fresh momentum into the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region.
Since the opening of its first sub-center in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, in 2019, Hongqiao 365 has launched 25 sub-centers across Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, bringing its total to 33 nationwide.
Through these sub-centers, Hongqiao 365 is expanding the spillover effects of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) across the region, providing more opportunities for CIIE exhibits to enter the Chinese market.
Hongqiao 365's sub-center in Bengbu, a city in Anhui province. [Photo/Hongqiao 365]
For example, though cooperation between Hongqiao 365 and a local free trade zone, Hongqiao 365's sub-center in Bengbu, Anhui, has established a showcase center with products identical to those at the CIIE, making it a popular destination for its unique selection and fast product turnover.
Additionally, the Suzhou Sub-Center in Jiangsu, opened in April 2021, had achieved over 200 million yuan ($27.59 million) in revenue by 2024. The Kunshan Sub-Center in Jiangsu has adopted a coffee-focused model, blending Kunqu opera culture into modern coffee spaces. In Shaoxing, Zhejiang, the sub-center combines bonded warehouse operations with cross-border e-commerce, enhancing consumer access to imported goods.
The Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor. [Photo/Hongqiao 365]
Coffee businesses throughout the YRD region have also benefited from Hongqiao 365. The Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor at Hongqiao 365 provides one-stop services for coffee companies from the region to enter the thriving coffee market in Shanghai and assists with their global expansion.
Moving forward, Hongqiao 365 aims to become a new landmark for the emerging low-altitude economy in the YRD region. With its proximity to Hongqiao International Airport, it seeks to become a display and trading platform for low-altitude aircraft and a hub for low-altitude flights in the region.
Plans are underway to convert the rooftop of its Building B into a takeoff and landing platform for low-altitude aircraft. This will allow passengers arriving at Hongqiao International Airport to quickly transfer and reach other cities in the YRD region within mere minutes and enjoy aerial views of Shanghai.
Hongqiao 365 plans to turn the rooftop of its Building B into a takeoff and landing platform for low-altitude aircraft. [Photo/Hongqiao 365]
