Convention fosters development of sci-fi sector

The 2023 China Science Fiction Convention is being held at the Shougang Industrial Park in western Beijing’s Shijingshan district, with about 40 activities including exhibitions, forums and performances scheduled.

Organized by the China Association for Science and Technology and the Beijing government, this year’s event will run through to June 4. It’s the first time that the convention has been included as part of the Zhongguancun Forum.

The 2023 event emphasizes the integrated development of science fiction and scientific technologies, said Pang Xiaodong, deputy director of the popular science department at CAST. Meanwhile, it is aimed at fostering the creation of sci-fi works and encouraging more people to learn about and participate in the science fiction industry, Pang added.

The event’s opening ceremony, held on May 29, featured a virtual host named “Huan Huan”, which was supported by augmented reality and hologram technologies.

From May 29 to June 4, a science fiction exhibition is taking place in the Zhongguancun Science Fiction Industry Innovation Center, with more than 46 enterprises in the industry showcasing their latest products and technologies.

The exhibition offers the public a platform to experience cutting-edge technologies such as those related to smart transportation, motion capture and virtual photography, while it helps to enhance cooperation among companies, organizers said.

The convention also consists of 11 parallel forums, with numerous experts and corporate leaders sharing their insights into industrial trends.

In addition, the Beijing Science Fiction Carnival is being held during this year’s convention, including a science fiction film festival, an award ceremony and a conference on product launches.

A highlight of the film festival was the “sci-fi movie night”, which promoted some science fiction movies that will be released soon. The domestic streaming site Tencent Video is also screening 30 blockbuster sci-fi movies from home and abroad.

Launched in 2016, the China Science Fiction Convention has been held in Shijingshan district for three years.

At the 2020 session of the event, CAST and the municipal government signed an agreement to establish China’s first sci-fi industrial complex in the Shougang Industrial Park.

As a result, the Zhongguancun Science Fiction Industry Innovation Center, an incubator for sci-fi companies, started operations in the park in August 2022. So far, 66 enterprises have made a presence in the center.

The district has also made sustained efforts to advance the application of scientific technologies and build application scenarios for the sci-fi industry.

An array of demonstration projects have been built in the park, such the Fahai Temple Mural Digital Art Museum, and the SoReal Metaverse Park, which includes a museum based on virtual reality technologies, an immersive theater and many interactive activities.