A pair of mascots for the 3rd Shanxi Cultural Industries Fair, Jinbao (left) and Zhangcaoyantuanzi (right), were revealed on July 24. [Photo/sxrb.com]

Mascots for the 3rd Shanxi Cultural Industries Fair were unveiled in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on July 24.

Jinbao, the mascot of the 2nd Shanxi Cultural Industries Fair, has kept its traditional Shanxi characteristics from the previous year.

The other mascot, Zhangcaoyantuanzi (a dumpling like emoticon with grass) is a popular emoticon often used on Chinese social networking platforms such as QQ and WeChat.

The combination represents the integration of traditional and emerging cultural industries in Shanxi, as well as the province’s open and inclusive attitude toward cultural industries, according to the organizing committee.

The 3rd Shanxi Cultural Industries Fair, planned for August, is expected to promote cooperation among cultural businesses from China and abroad.

More than 600 domestic and foreign companies will take part in the exhibition, which covers an area of over 20,000 square meters.

This year’s fair will take place from August 24 to 28, and consist of exhibitions, forums, signing ceremonies and cultural performances.