A mega exhibition for the tourism, hospitality and lifestyle sectors opened in Shanghai on Monday.

The Tourism Plus Shanghai 2021 is basically three different fairs and a show rolled into one and rounded off with 100 forums and summits and 29 professional and international competitions, from canoeing to Chinese cooking.

A whopping 5,000 exhibitors have signed up for the expo with some 400,000 visitors expected to throng the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the world's largest single block complex.

The event is taking place across three venues, covering more than 600,000 square meters.

Among the exhibitions is Hotelex Shanghai, an international trade fair for the hospitality industry running from March 29 to April 1. Agents and distributors will showcase a range of services and products for the hotel and catering industries, including cleaning solutions, catering equipment, tableware as well as foodstuffs.

The Hotel & Shop Plus, from March 30 to April 2, is displaying the latest in hotel furniture, design and decoration as well as epidemic prevention and disinfection solutions for the hospitality industry at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Additionally, an exhibition featuring over 1,200 square meters of immersive travel scenery, as well as the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show (CIBS) and the Lifestyle Show, which includes more than 600 brands and launches over 20 new products, will open to the public at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from April 1 to 3.

The aim of the mega expo is to support tourism industries, promote the investment and cooperation in related sectors, and empower the entire industry chain. It is a major project in Shanghai's "14th Five-Year Plan" and one of three key programs of the city's tourism industry, according to Cheng Meihong, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Culture and Tourism.

Fang Shizhong, head of the local culture and tourism bureau, noted at the opening ceremony that tourism in Shanghai is an important window of "how the world sees China" and a significant link for domestic and international tourism cooperation.

Fang said that the city will launch a plan to boost its tourism industry by creating a number of world-class tourist resorts, embracing digital transformation and improving the level of service.

(Cover: A combination of posters for some activities taking place under the Tourism Plus Shanghai 2021. /Tourism Plus Shanghai)