Part 2/13:
Footage circulating on social media platforms, such as Douyin, revealed largely empty exhibition halls with only sparse foot traffic. Buyers, exhibitors, and visitors seemed disengaged—many focused on their phones, with foreign visitors barely glancing at booths before moving on. An attendee expressed their frustration, asserting that effort alone was futile when the turnout was so disappointing. An exhibitor humorously commented that the fair felt more like a networking session for suppliers, emphasizing the stark absence of international buyers.