The 137th Canton Fair was bustling in Guangzhou, flaunting the best of ‘Made in China’. But this year, it's ‘Designed in China’ that's grabbing all the attention.

From elaborately made collectible blind boxes to cute animal figures and super-realistic basketball player dolls, innovation is everywhere. One remarkable exhibitor, a company with over 50 years of history that began by making the stickers and stationery that were a big part of an earlier generation's childhood, has upgraded their products: stickers now have embossed finishes and 3D effects, and their latest smash hit - patented 3D paper-assembly blind boxes - has charmed buyers from Europe, North America, and Belt and Road markets.

The fair also spotlights a rise in products with Chinese cultural style. Beautiful jewelry made from crystal, stone, and wood, along with silk scarves inspired by ancient temple murals, are attracting a lot of notice. Designers mention a change in creative focus: while previous collections relied a lot on Western trends to appeal to global buyers, many are now adopting native aesthetics - and the reaction has been extremely positive.