On August 11, the highly anticipated 2026 Lhasa Global Premium Products Expo officially kicked off at the Jixiang Hall of the Lhasa Hotel. Spanning six days until August 16, this grand showcase features over a thousand specialty products from 27 countries worldwide. Serving as a vital economic and trade platform connecting the plateau city with international markets, the expo not only offers Lhasa residents a globalized visual and culinary experience but also plays an active role in promoting regional consumption upgrades and deepening international economic and trade exchanges. On the opening day, the Jixiang Hall was bustling with visitors, and the dazzling array of global goods attracted crowds of locals to browse and shop, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Stepping into the Jixiang Hall, visitors will find that each exhibition zone boasts its own unique characteristics, presenting a tapestry of diverse cultural integration. Among the most eye-catching attractions is the Turkish mosaic lamp zone. The handcrafted mosaic lamps, with their radiant colors and exquisite craftsmanship, not only showcase the charm of traditional exotic handicrafts but also draw large crowds of residents to admire, inquire, and place orders, becoming a major highlight of the event.
Meanwhile, the imported food zone is equally popular and bustling with activity. A dazzling array of specialty foods from around the world is on display, including dried fruits from Vietnam, curry paste from Thailand, and coffee from Malaysia. To enhance the consumer experience, exhibitors have introduced complimentary tasting sessions, allowing Lhasa residents to embark on a culinary "journey around the world" without traveling far. This immersive consumer experience has greatly stimulated purchasing enthusiasm and reflects the expo's original intention to introduce high-quality global consumer goods.
In the jewelry and gems zone, Mr. Xie, an exhibitor from Hubei Province, has been kept busy attending to a steady stream of customers. With a family legacy spanning three generations in the jade and turquoise trade, Mr. Xie possesses profound industry expertise. He traveled specifically from Hubei to Lhasa for this expo, bringing along a selection of goods valued at approximately 330,000 RMB, primarily featuring premium aged green turquoise. While warmly welcoming customers, Mr. Xie explained, "Residents in Lhasa have a strong preference for green. We specifically brought high-quality turquoise from representative mines in our hometown, hoping to provide local consumers with premium choices."
Addressing the public's concern about authenticating turquoise, Mr. Xie provided professional tips on the spot. He noted that in addition to sending the stones to the Testing Center of China University of Geosciences for professional appraisal, consumers can also make preliminary judgments with the naked eye. Specifically, they should focus on three dimensions: compactness, density, and color. The darker the color and the higher the compactness, the better the quality of the turquoise; meanwhile, those with natural veining are generally of superior quality. These practical identification techniques have not only boosted consumers' confidence in their purchases but also enhanced the professional service standards of the expo.
Notably, this year marks the third time the Lhasa Global Premium Products Expo has been held in Lhasa. Building on the success of the previous two editions, the expo has gradually evolved into an influential international consumption platform in Lhasa and the broader Tibet region. Zhou Zifan, Head of Publicity for the expo, provided a detailed introduction to the scale and features of this year's event in an interview. He stated, "This year's expo brings together over a thousand specialty products from 27 countries. Compared with previous editions, we have specially set up complimentary booths this year for local businesses founded by persons with disabilities in Lhasa, leveraging the expo platform to help them expand sales channels and enhance brand visibility."
Zhou further emphasized that as a state-owned enterprise from Jiangsu, the organizer will earnestly fulfill its social responsibilities and take concrete actions to support special groups, demonstrating corporate commitment. This initiative not only provides invaluable opportunities for display and sales for businesses run by persons with disabilities but also highlights the expo platform's profound significance in promoting social equity and driving inclusive growth, earning widespread acclaim from all sectors of society.
The successful hosting of this expo enables Lhasa residents to fulfill their desire to "buy global, shop global" right at their doorstep, greatly enriching the supply of goods in the local market. More importantly, the expo has built a bridge for economic and trade exchanges between the snow-capped plateau and the wider world, injecting new vitality into Lhasa's integration into the new development paradigm of dual circulation at home and abroad.
It is reported that throughout the remainder of the expo, more high-quality global products will continue to be showcased at the Jixiang Hall of the Lhasa Hotel. The organizers also warmly welcome Lhasa residents and tourists from all over to visit, browse, and shop, jointly witnessing this cross-border extravaganza of premium products.