At the 138th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, technologically enhanced home products, including stone walls with integrated displays and automated storage systems, are attracting widespread attention as Chinese manufacturers shift to smart home solutions.
Among the outstanding innovations is a wall that at first glance looks like ordinary stone, but hides a high-tech secret. The wall, which won the trade fair's Design Innovation Gold Award, transforms into a high-resolution display when activated via a mobile app.
Made from porous natural stone and embedded with inorganic nanomaterial, its UV-resistant surface offers longer durability than traditional LED screens, according to exhibitor Ma
“We have been participating in the Canton Fair for over ten years in a row. For us, it is an excellent international platform to showcase our products. The perception of 'Made in China' in the global market has now reached a new level, where Chinese manufacturing not only effectively controls costs but also delivers high-quality products,” Ma said.
In the furniture sector, a “Ferris Wheel” shoe cabinet with an electric lift system also attracted interest. The device automatically rotates when touched and pauses via infrared sensors when a hand is detected for easy access to stored items. Zheng Bikui, another exhibitor at the show, highlighted how smart technology is transforming the furniture fittings industry.
“In the early days, we mainly sold traditional hardware accessories for furniture. But with the introduction of our integrated smart modules, the proportion of our products in a complete furniture set has increased significantly, from just 2-3 percent in the past to 30-50 percent today,” he said.
These innovations reflect the broader advancement of China's home furnishings industry, combining materials research and intelligent technology to provide a clear path to higher-quality manufacturing on a global scale.
Smart living takes center stage at the Canton Fair as Chinese home brands unveil technology-driven upgrades
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen has endorsed China's Global Governance Initiative (GGI) as a timely push for multilateral climate action, calling it a strong signal of leadership in the face of growing global environmental challenges.
Unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the GGI calls for a fairer and more equitable global governance system and urges international cooperation to address global challenges, including climate change.
In an interview with China Media Group in Beijing on October 16, Andersen said China's commitment to multilateral dialogue provides critical impetus to address climate-related challenges.
“When we see a leader of a major nation like China come forward and say, 'Look, these issues require global conversations, and the global conversations are taking place in multilateralism,' that is obviously something that gives us strength because these problems are global in scope and need global solutions,” Andersen said.
“So we have to look at this as a nation on this planet, a nation of people under the great flag of the United Nations. Of course, at the end of the day, we are just one people, interdependent and dependent on this planet and the climate that it has. So it is very important to pay attention to just and equitable transitions, to the commitments that we make, making this a cornerstone of the thinking paradigm and therefore the development paradigm to do. But like I said, if you’re a leader.” “I am coming forward and making these clear statements, which I think is very welcome from the perspective of the United Nations,” she added.
UNEP chief praises China's role in promoting multilateral climate action