These works of art masters are exhibited for free in Pudong, and Shanghai has become an international cultural and artistic "gateway" for cultural relics and exhibits at the CIIE

"This can't be fake, right? It's the first time I've seen so many works of art masters, it's still free to watch!" On July 26, 2023, in the exhibition hall on the second floor of Pudong Biyun Art Museum, Fu Yuhong, who has been working as a curator for many years, couldn't believe it.

On the day when the countdown to the 6th China International Import Expo was 100 days, the second "Wind from the Sea - China International Import Expo Cultural Relics and Art Public Welfare Exhibition" officially opened at the Biyun Art Museum. The exhibition showcases 28 exquisite works created by 12 well-known contemporary artists, including Chang Yu, Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Fu Baoshi, Wu Guanzhong, Huang Binhong, and Kusama Yasheng. The works exhibited to the public this time are all cultural relics and artistic works that were tax-free and sold in the 4th and 5th CIIE.

Fu Yuhong and his colleagues watched Qi Baishi's painting "Old Young Worker Insect".

So many of everyone's works can be enjoyed for free by citizens, thanks to the opening up of the "main channel" for the return of overseas cultural relics through the CIIE.

It is reported that relying on the location advantage, platform advantage, and policy advantage of the cultural sector of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, and with the help of the top ten art trade facilitation measures of the Free Trade Zone, Shanghai Free Trade and Cultural Investment provides a full chain one-stop service for cultural relics and art through the software and hardware supporting services of the Shanghai International Cultural Relics and Art Bonded Service Center, assisting in completing a series of procedures such as declaration, transaction, customs clearance, import, and payment of exhibits, and implementing tax preferential policies in accordance with regulations. At the same time, it also provides supporting services such as booth construction, exhibition placement and removal. For unsold works after the exhibition, Shanghai Free Trade and Cultural Investment can also provide bonded warehousing, bonded display, and trading services.

The high-quality service chain, combined with the convenient and efficient entry and exit channels for cultural relics and artworks in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, allows more exhibits to enter. Starting from the establishment of the cultural relics and artworks section for the first time at the 4th CIIE in 2021, the 4th and 5th CIIE have attracted more than 20 foreign institutions from 11 countries and regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong, China to participate in the exhibition. A total of 78 cultural relics and artworks have achieved tax-free sales, with a total transaction amount of 1.25 billion yuan. Christie's, Sotheby's, and FuYiSi, known as the "world's three major auction houses" in the industry, have appeared on stage together for two consecutive years. This has also become a new highlight and growth point of the CIIE.

Zhang Daqian's "Amazing Talent".

Chang Yu's "Chrysanthemum Vase on the Yellow Table".

Shanghai has become an international gateway for cultural relics and artworks. Zhang Daqian's "Amazing Talents", Chang Yu's "Chrysanthemum Vase on the Yellow Table", Wu Guanzhong's "Huanteng", Huang Binhong's "Fishing Hidden in the Tiaoxi River" and other rare masterpieces have all returned to China through the CIIE platform and will be exhibited for free in this exhibition.

It is reported that according to the Announcement of the National Cutural Heritage Administration on the Supervision and Facilitation Measures for Cultural Relics Exhibits in Support of the China International Import Expo, the cultural relics that are sold duty-free into China during the exhibition period will remain in China after a series of procedures such as follow-up purchase, payment, customs clearance and delivery are completed, and cultural relics that enjoy preferential tax policies will be encouraged to provide public welfare display services to the public.

Public welfare exhibitions will better leverage the aesthetic value and social benefits of these cultural relics and artworks that enjoy tax exemption policies, allowing more members of the public who have not had the opportunity to attend the Expo site to witness the returned cultural relics and artworks at their doorstep, and to experience the happiness and sense of achievement brought by the country's high-level opening-up up close.

The 6th CIIE this year marks the fourth year of the implementation of the "5-piece duty-free" policy for artworks, collectibles, and antique exhibits. It will attract more top international institutions to participate and use "art empowerment" to amplify the spillover effects of the CIIE. The exhibition and sales of cultural relics and artworks entering the country have also become normalized. The cultural relics and artworks section has become the most anticipated and highly anticipated exhibition area for the annual CIIE, as well as the most artistic and cultural atmosphere.