A local resident studies a work at the third Zhoushan Marine Cultural Industry Expo in Zhoushan, in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

The third Zhoushan Marine Cultural Industry Expo recently kicked off at the Putuo Exhibition Center in Zhoushan, in East China's Zhejiang province.

Hosted by the municipal publicity department, the expo attracted more than 100 cultural companies in the city. They brought more than 1,000 cultural products to display, including ship models, decorative fishing ropes, and incense burners, showcasing the distinctive marine culture of the city.

The expo, held every two years, excelled previous ones with more diverse products that integrate culture with industry, technology and tourism, according to the organizing committee.

"We hold the expo to show the latest achievements that Zhoushan has made in the marine cultural industry in recent years, strengthening cooperation between cultural enterprises and promoting the city's marine culture," an organizer said.

Statistics show that Zhoushan has been enjoying 14-percent average annual growth rate in its cultural industry in recent years, among the top in Zhejiang province. The value-added of the industry and related industries hit 6.15 billion yuan ($865 million) in 2017, accounting for 5.06 percent of the annual regional GDP.

Officials estimated that the value-added in 2018 reached 6.9 billion yuan, accounting for 5.3 percent of the annual regional GDP.

The city is now home to around 1,500 cultural industries.