Expats captivated by Luohu Pavilion

Video by Liu Xudong

Mahmoud Ahmed was particularly attracted to a pair of AI-powered translation glasses exhibited at the Luohu District Pavilion during this year’s China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF). He visited the main venue at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center in Bao’an District with a group of expats Friday morning.

When talking to someone who speaks a different language, the glasses automatically display a translation of the target language on the lenses.

“It is actually very useful, especially here in China as an expat,” he said after trying on the glasses with the help of a staffer from Doctor Glasses, the developer of the glasses, at the Luohu Pavilion. 

Jeeranun Soontornpornjaroen from Thailand tests a pair of AI-powered translation glasses at the Luohu District Pavilion during the 21st ICIF on Friday. Photos by Wang Haolan

Ahmed, an Egyptian who founded Shenzhen Legal Wisdom Technology Co. Ltd. in Qianhai, hopes that the developer will add Arabic support in future upgrades.

Currently, the Star-V Air II smart glasses translate 13 languages, including English, French, Italian, Spanish, and several less commonly spoken languages like Thai.

Located in Hall 12, also known as the Intangible Cultural Heritage Arts and Crafts Hall, the Luohu District Pavilion highlights some of the district’s most representative enterprises.

Visitors admire exquisite jewelry pieces on display at Shuibei, one of Luohu’s ICIF subvenues.

A standout is herbal bubble tea, a sensation on social media that debuted during last year’s ICIF. “It tastes kind of nice, although different from the regular bubble tea you find in the market,” said Rita Giménez, a Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassador from Spain.

Giménez said she had heard about the herbal bubble tea, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), at last year’s ICIF but didn’t have the chance to try it until now.

“It tastes healthy,” she said. The tea's formula was created by professional TCM practitioners at the Shenzhen Luohu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is reputed to aid sleep and brighten the complexion.

Visitors examine a jet engine model at the Luohu District Pavilion during the 21st ICIF.

During this year’s ICIF, Luohu District is showcasing developments from its cultural industry at both the main venue and three subvenues — the Art Exhibition Center, Shenzhen Antique City, and the Shenzhen Jewelry Cluster Area in Shuibei.

Covering 320 square meters in Hall 12 of the exhibition center, the Luohu Pavilion is themed “Connecting the World Intelligently, Creative Luohu.” It features 38 key enterprises spanning gold and jewelry, digital creativity, crafts, cutting-edge technology, and artificial intelligence.

International visitors gather as robotic dogs from Sanbot Robotics perform at the Luohu District Pavilion during the 21st ICIF.  

Muhammad Shahroz Khalid, a Pakistani graduate student studying civil engineering at Shenzhen University, was captivated by Sanbot Robotics’ “Little Elf,” a robotic dog designed to support early childhood education. He was seen giving it commands like “sit” and “stand up.” Khalid said enthusiastically, “This is so cool."

Visitors are drawn to the robot dogs on display at the Luohu Pavilion during the ICIF on Friday at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center in Bao’an District.

The expats were pleased with the experiences they had at the pavilion, seeing how Luohu is evolving into a hub for cultural industries powered by both smart technologies and China's rich traditional heritage.