The 2021 International Antique Art Fair opened at the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base of Tianzhu Comprehensive Free Trade Zone, in Shunyi district of Beijing, on Saturday, and will last for three months.

The fair showcases nearly 3,000 pieces of exhibits from over 70 international collection agencies and galleries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore and Japan with a total value of nearly 5 billion yuan ($784 million). More than 70 percent of the exhibits are on display in bonded mode and online exhibitions are held at the same time.

The fair marks the first of its kind held in a comprehensive bonded zone, attracting many foreign museums and galleries to participate in the fair or settle in the bonded zone.

Four theme exhibitions are staged during the fair, including International Heritage Art Exhibition, International Art Gallery Space Exhibition, Works by Artists Staying in France, and Sailing: From Ancient Maritime Trade to Contemporary Shipping.

Among them, the exhibition "Sailing" is held at the Blanc Art Center, with Hong Kong Maritime Museum bringing more than 130 pieces of its heavyweight collections to the fair. Ship models, navigational instrument, antique porcelain, paintings and photographs are presented, which show the shipping history of China's south coast, and the ancient maritime trade landscape of Hong Kong.

With the opening of the fair, the International Antiques and Artwork Bonded Trade Platform at the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing) officially launched operation. After one year's preparation, the platform has established a complete industrial chain covering international cultural relics and art exhibitions, auctions, storage and logistics, and art financing.

So far, the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base in Shunyi district of Beijing has introduced more than 60 high-quality cultural enterprises with favorable policies, and the import volume of artworks at the Tianzhu Comprehensive Free Trade Zone has reached one-third of the whole nation.