A premier gateway for product sourcing across the Greater Bay Area

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Returning for its third edition, Connexion Shenzhen 2025 will once again take the spotlight as one of South China’s most influential multi-industry exhibitions from December 16–18, 2025 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Organized by Sinoexpo Informa Markets, this year’s event is set to deliver unprecedented scale and connectivity, bringing together 2,500+ exhibitors across 12 halls and welcoming an anticipated 150,000 professional visitors from the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Southeast Asia, and global markets.

Building on the success of its previous editions, Connexion Shenzhen 2025 features an upgraded exhibition structure, stronger regional integration, and a more vibrant array of concurrent events. The show continues to serve as a premier one-stop sourcing platform that bridges the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area with the world’s fast-growing consumer and manufacturing markets.

Eight Sectors, One Integrated Marketplace
This year’s edition will present eight core themed sectors, echoing Eight renown show brands by Sinoexpo Informa Markets. Each covering a major pillar of the consumer lifestyle and manufacturing ecosystem: The Shenzhen Edition of each brand shows combines as Connexion Shenzhen, which will make professional buyers, industrial peers from GBA and Southeast Asia visit the show without travelling a long way.

• Food & Beverage Catering Equipment-Hotelex Shenzhen 2025
• Bakery/ Lighting Meal Desserts-China Bakery Show Autumn 2025
• Hospitality Products Decorations & Design-Hotel & Shop Plus Shenzhen 2025
• Furniture & Decorative Materials-H+R Design Expo Shenzhen 2025
• Cleaning & Sanitation Property Management-China Clean Show Shenzhen 2025
• Natural & Nutraceutical Products Health Ingredients-NPC Shenzhen 2025 & HI-FI Asia China- Shenzhen 2025
• Food Processing & Packaging- Propak Shenzhen 2025
• Lifestyle & Gift & IP-Urban Lifestyle Shenzhen 2025

The optimized 12-hall layout enables buyers to source across linked supply chains — from café equipment, hospitality furniture, cleaning technologies, and packaging machinery to consumer health products, design solutions, and lifestyle innovations. This streamlined structure fosters cross-sector collaboration, encouraging efficient sourcing, knowledge exchange, and market expansion for industry professionals.

World-Class Events & Global Highlights
Connexion Shenzhen 2025 will host a series of flagship events that attract global attention and elevate the show’s influence in the region.

• RAFA Asia Architecture Festival (RIBA Architecture Festival Asia) — Asia Debut

Co-organized with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), this festival will gather leading architects, designers, hotel investors, and commercial developers for keynote speeches, design showcases, and cross-disciplinary dialogues focused on innovation and sustainable development.

Immersive On-site Experience: 100+ Forums & 20+ Competitions Ignite the Show Floor
Beyond the extensive exhibition lineup, Connexion Shenzhen 2025 will deliver a festival-like atmosphere with 100+ forums and 20+ flagship competitions spanning coffee, beverages, culinary arts, lifestyle, and hotel innovation. These activities transform the three-day event into a vibrant arena of creativity, talent, and professional excellence. The 2025 edition will feature:

• 100+ industry forums, conferences, and panel discussions
  Covering hospitality, design, food & beverage innovation, smart manufacturing, health & wellness, sustainability, and emerging consumer trends.
  Thought leaders, brand pioneers, designers, hotel operators, and global buyers will share insights shaping the future of multiple sectors.

• 20+ high-energy competitions and special showcases
  The show floor will be alive with premier competitive events and cultural festivals. Key highlights include the exciting debut of the 2026 World Trend Beverage Competition – China Finals, where top beverage creators and mixologists battle live. The arena will also host a series of HOTELEX International Coffee Championships, featuring national preliminaries for the World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Latte Art Championship, and World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. Additionally, visitors can experience dynamic events like the All Star Coffee Roasting Performance Show, the HOTELEX Coffee & Gourmet Culture Festival, and various culinary skill challenges and innovation awards.

Across all 12 exhibition halls, the venue will buzz with live demonstrations, trend launches, and hands-on experiences, offering visitors an action-packed journey that blends professional knowledge, cultural immersion, and industry innovation.

International Connectivity Backed by Global Resources
As part of Informa Markets’ global exhibition network, Connexion Shenzhen 2025 leverages extensive international resources, overseas promotion channels, and professional operation systems to strengthen its global reach and industry influence.

China’s expanded 240-hour visa-free transit policy, now covering additional ports across Guangdong Province, has significantly improved access for international visitors. Participants from 55 countries can enjoy visa-free entry, further supporting overseas buyer attendance and reinforcing Shenzhen’s position as a global business gateway.

One Visit, Multiple Opportunities — Join Us This December
From December 16–18, Connexion Shenzhen 2025 invites global industry leaders, innovators, distributors, designers, and buyers to gather in Shenzhen for a world-class exhibition experience. Engage with breakthrough technologies, discover future market trends, and build strategic partnerships that shape the next era of cross-industry development in Asia.

Venue: Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center
Date: December 16–18, 2025
For more information, please visit: https://www.connexion.cn/en/elementor-6765 

BEIJING, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CGTN published an article on the post-disaster rescue and reconstruction efforts following a devastating fire in Tai Po in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), highlighting the collective efforts by the central government and the HKSAR government, Hong Kong residents, volunteers from the mainland, and different sectors of society.

At Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, residents have quietly returned to homes they’ll never be able to live in again – some for the first time since the devastating fire on November 26. Many came only to retrieve what little they could carry. But they were not alone.

Clusters of volunteers stood ready to help them pack up belongings and guide families to the waiting vans. Nearby, an unattended truck sat with its back doors open, stocked with bottled drinks, cardboard boxes and plastic bags – free for anyone who needed them.

Among those offering help was Wong Chi-chuen, 58-year-old taxi driver. For five straight days, Wong and several fellow drivers had been shuttling residents for free. “We start at eight and don’t stop until late,” he said. “Yes, it hurts our incomes, but helping people matters more.”

From long lines of volunteers to steady donations from across society, Hong Kong has mobilized on a remarkable scale, coming together to support families hit by the tragedy.

Government steps up support

In the wake of the fire, Chinese President Xi Jinping immediately urged all-out efforts to extinguish the blaze and minimize casualties and losses. He also extended his deep condolences, as well as his sympathies to the victims’ families and all those affected by the fire.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, within hours of the disaster, launched a citywide rescue and resettlement operation. Temporary shelters opened across Tai Po the same night, and emergency payments were issued immediately.

As of December 5, 1,369 residents had been placed in youth hostels, camps and hotel rooms. Another 2,499 people had moved into transitional housing. Chief Executive John Lee pledged that “no affected family will be left behind” and said the accommodation will be free throughout the reconstruction period.

One day after the fire, each affected household was given an emergency payment of HK$10,000. The government later announced HK$200,000 in condolence payments to the families of victims. It also provided HK$50,000 in living allowances for affected households – an amount later increased to HK$100,000.

The Social Welfare Department has reached out to over 4,900 residents from over 1,900 households as part of its “one social worker per household” support scheme, providing counseling, coordinating supplies and offering day-to-day help. Each household is also paired with two civil servants to assist with medical visits, packing, transport and other practical needs.

Lion Rock spirit

The tragedy has prompted a strong wave of compassion from across Hong Kong and beyond.

On the day of the fire, residents brought clothing, food and water to shelters, while long queues formed at blood donation centers. A shipment of urgently needed blankets was transported overnight from the mainland’s Dongguan to Tai Po.

Volunteers have been working around the clock at shelters and transitional housing sites to ensure residents can get help whenever they need. Once a request is made, volunteers coordinate and deliver supplies quickly.

“Hong Kong people have the Lion Rock spirit. When one suffers, everyone supports,” said Mei Siu-fung, head of the Tai Po District Care Team, adding about 400 local volunteers responded within hours after the fire. The Lion Rock spirit, often described as the spirit of Hong Kong, reflects the city’s collective resilience and determination to overcome hardship and strive for a better life.

Support has also flowed in from the mainland and Macao. Shenzhen residents organized supply trucks. Children and elder villagers from Guizhou donated what they could. Mainland organizations–large and small –mobilized medical gear, relief materials and millions in funding. The Macao Foundation sent HK$30 million.

Public donations to the support fund for Wang Fuk Court have now reached around HK$3 billion. Together with HK$300 million in seed funding from the HKSAR government, the fund totals roughly HK$3.3 billion and will support rebuilding and long-term assistance.

“Disasters are merciless, but people have love,” Lee said. “The care and donations from Guangdong, Macao and many others reflect compassion, solidarity and hope. The government will ensure every dollar goes toward helping residents rebuild their lives.”

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-12-08/In-the-wake-of-tragedy-Hong-Kong-comes-together-to-rebuild-1IWyRq86a6k/p.html

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Agricultural Corporation Geumsan Insamju announced that it is strengthening its cultural and experiential marketing strategy in Hong Kong, aiming to position its flagship product Geumseol not merely as an alcoholic beverage but as a “cultural experience.” With growing interest in K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean cuisine, curiosity toward Korean traditional liquor is also rising in Hong Kong SAR—making Geumseol a timely fit for the expanding Korean cultural wave.

Hong Kong maintains consistent demand for giftable liquor at duty-free shops and retail stores, and alcohol purchases by tourists remain strong. This presents Geumseol with an opportunity to appeal simultaneously as both a premium liqueur and a memorable souvenir. “Hong Kong consumers are already familiar with Korean dining culture, and traditional liquor holds strong potential as a cultural product,” a company spokesperson said.

To engage local consumers, Geumsan Insamju is planning pop-up events and tasting sessions at popular K-culture stores, lifestyle select shops, and stylish bars across Hong Kong. The unique LED lighting at the base of the Geumseol bottle will be highlighted through visually appealing photos and videos, which the company will distribute via social media platforms and live-commerce channels to deliver its brand story directly to Hong Kong audiences.

Geumsan Insamju is also considering expanding its product lineup. Beyond Geumseol, the company is exploring new ginseng-based low-alcohol beverages, powdered distilled spirits, and fruit- or herb-infused liqueurs to cater to a wider range of consumer tastes.

A representative from Agricultural Corporation Geumsan Insamju said, “We are not simply selling alcohol—we are exporting Korean tradition and sentiment. We hope Geumseol becomes recognized in Hong Kong SAR as a representative cultural spirit of Korea.”

HONG KONG, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From November 23 to 25, the Seventh World Hakka Entrepreneurs Convention was held in Meizhou, Guangdong. The conference, with the theme of “Gather Global Hakka Entrepreneurs • Facilitate High-Quality Development,” upheld the principles of “openness, innovation, cooperation, and mutual benefit,” and explored new opportunities for the development of Hakka culture and industrial development. At this grand, globally watched event, Guangdong Jiaying Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. showcased its star products, including “Shuangliao Houfeng San” (Double-ingredient Throat Wind Relief Powder), “Gujing Shenrong Wan” (Solid Essence Ginseng and Antler Pill), and “Longnao Gao” (Borneol Ointment), presenting the unique charm of Hakka medicine to the world.

When discussing Hakka medicine, one cannot avoid mentioning traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Global health demands have been continuously increasing, and TCM, with its unique theoretical system and clinical efficacy, is gaining broad international recognition. As one of the unique treasures in the repository of TCM, Hakka medicine, relying on its characteristic fusion of northern and southern traditions, profound historical heritage, and distinctive therapeutic effects, is advancing alongside TCM onto the international stage. Hakka medicine is integrating the medical wisdom carried by the southward-migrating Hakka people into the wave of TCM going abroad.

Inheritance: The Connotation and Relationship Between Hakka Medicine and TCM

Both Hakka medicine and TCM are important components of the Chinese medical system, sharing lineage while possessing distinct characteristics. TCM, as a prominent and excellent representative of TCM, adheres to philosophical principles such as yin-yang, the Five Elements, and the unity of man and nature, establishing a unique and systematic theory of syndrome differentiation and treatment.

Hakka medicine is a medical culture gradually formed by the Hakka community over long historical migrations and development, featuring strong regional characteristics. It not only inherits the core theories and essence of early classical medicine from the Central Plains of China but also combines TCM theory with the natural environment and climatic conditions of southern China. It actively integrates practical herbal medicine experience from southern regions and certain minority medicinal practices, forming a TCM system that is theoretically diverse, methodologically unique, practical, and efficient. Its core concept emphasizes “treating the symptoms in acute cases and addressing the root cause in chronic ones”, demonstrating strong adaptability and innovation.

In general, the relationship between Hakka medicine and TCM can be described as “combining inheritance and innovation, emphasizing integration and complementarity.” Hakka medicine represents a deepening and development of TCM in specific regional and practical contexts, and its theoretical system and clinical practice further enrich the connotation of TCM. Meanwhile, TCM provides a solid theoretical foundation and methodological guidance for Hakka medicine, laying the basic framework for its development. Together, they enrich the treasure trove of Chinese medicine.

Innovation: Similarities and Differences Between Hakka Medicine and TCM

Hakka medicine and TCM share commonalities and differences in their theoretical foundations. Their commonality lies in the emphasis on yin-yang, the Five Elements, the unity of man and nature, syndrome differentiation and treatment, and a holistic perspective. Their differences lie in Hakka medicine’s greater focus on local environmental adaptation, regional adaptation of TCM, and innovation in certain theoretical applications.

Regarding its theoretical foundations, Hakka medicine possesses three major characteristics: first, it embodies a fusion of northern and southern wisdom, preserving the essence of Central Plains medicine while integrating the medical wisdom of southern ethnic minorities; second, it combines the theory of the I Ching with medical practice, as reflected in the advocacy of “using the I Ching as the source of medicine”; and third, it emphasizes the principle of “treating diseases before they arise,” placing prevention at the forefront.

In terms of treatment methods, Hakka medicine shows distinct features. It not only inherits external therapies such as acupuncture and tui na from TCM but also develops treatment methods with Hakka characteristics.

Concerning medicinal characteristics, Hakka medicine places greater emphasis on herbs that clear heat, detoxify, and eliminate dampness. These herbs are primarily used to address diseases caused by the humid and hot southern environment, such as glabrous greenbrier rhizome and Bidens biternata for alleviating body heat caused by damp-heat, and honeysuckle and cinnamon for treating gastrointestinal stagnation caused by damp-heat pathogens.

Development: The Metamorphosis from Tradition to Modernity

The development of Hakka medicine and TCM has transformed from traditional to modern times. In traditional periods, Hakka medicine was primarily passed down through family inheritance and master-apprentice teaching, forming a relatively complete and transmissible TCM system. For example, Double-ingredient Throat Wind Relief Powder was developed by Zheng Lanpu during the Qing Dynasty and later promoted and inherited by his fifth-generation descendant Zheng Shilong. From the mid-Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, over nearly 200 years, this formula has been preserved to the present day.

In recent years, with China’s increasing emphasis on TCM, Hakka medicine has received renewed protection and transmission. In April 2025, the Guangdong Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Training Program was held in Meizhou, providing professional support for the inheritance of Hakka medicine culture. In September 2025, Professor Lan Wenjian from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University, after investigating Jiaying Pharmaceutical, proposed injecting scientific research and talent momentum into Hakka medicine enterprises through jointly established student practice bases, applying for enterprise postdoctoral workstations, and jointly building provincial key laboratories.

In recent years, Chinese culture has increasingly demonstrated its value worldwide, and cultural confidence has been further strengthened. The globalization of TCM is not only about promoting the advantages of TCM to the world and serving humanity, but also about learning from the world. TCM can truly integrate into the international medical system through cultural adaptation and standardization.

History shows that Hakka medicine, as an important component of TCM, has already demonstrated its unique charm on the international stage. Jiaying Pharmaceutical, as a key inheritor of Hakka medicine culture, is actively exploring the internationalization of Hakka medicine, enabling more people to understand and recognize Hakka medicine.