During the five-day exhibition from January 18 to 22, 2024, approximately 600 visitors participated in meetingsand discussions, with around 200 expressing clear intentions for cooperation.

Suzhou is a vital hub for the preservation of China’s traditional crafts. Of the 11 official categories of Chinese handicrafts, Suzhou alone is home to over 3,000 types across 10 categories—an extraordinary testament to its rich diversity, cultural depth, and technical excellence.

As the inaugural Featured City of 「THE ZHAI」 (China’s Origin), Suzhou beautifully showcases its deep historical roots and refined cultural identity through three key dimensions:
• Urban development (城)
• Domestic living (家)
• Material culture (物)

Mr. Guillaume Prot, Exhibition Director of MAISON&OBJET; Mr. François Delclaux, Curator of the 2024 “THE ZHAI: Dwell in China” exhibition; Ms. Jin Yi, Project Director of THE ZHAI; a representative from the Guangfu region of Suzhou; along with international and Chinese industry media guests, attended the grand opening ceremony together.
“MAISON&OBJET has always paid close attention to exhibitors and products from China. ‘THE ZHAI: Dwell in China’ is M&O’s strategic partner in mainland China. The Chinese products presented this time demonstrated exceptional standards in design, materials, and craftsmanship, bringing new energy and creativity to M&O.”— Guillaume Prot, Exhibition Director, MAISON&OBJET
“In Suzhou, I experienced a profound history, rich culture, and truly impressive craftsmanship… ‘THE ZHAI: Dwell in China’ offers international audiences at M&O an effective way to understand Chinese traditional crafts. It also helps Chinese products connect with more global resources and better respond to the needs of overseas markets.”— François Delclaux,Designer and Curator of the ‘What’s New’ section at M&O
Looking ahead to the collaboration between “THE ZHAI: Dwell in China” and MAISON&OBJET, Mr. François Delclaux believes that THE ZHAI provides a valuable gateway for international audiences at M&O to explore traditional Chinese craftsmanship. It also enables Chinese products to stay in step with the times. He hopes that in the future, THE ZHAI will fully leverage its brand strength to connect with more international resources and respond even more effectively to the demands of the global market.
A dialogue session themed "Suzhou Traditional Handicrafts Entering the Global Market" was held following the opening ceremony. The session was moderated by Ms. Su Xinxuan, Co-Curator of the 2024 “THE ZHAI: Dwell in China” exhibition. Participants included Mr. Guillaume Prot, Exhibition Director of M&O; Mr. Simon Boullier, a renowned French designer; and Ms. Jin Yi, Project Director of THE ZHAI.
“MAISON&OBJET has always paid close attention to exhibitors and products from China. ‘THE ZHAI: Dwell in China’ is M&O’s strategic partner in mainland China. The Chinese products presented this time demonstrated exceptional standards in design, materials, and craftsmanship, bringing new energy and creativity to M&O.”— Guillaume Prot, Exhibition Director, MAISON&OBJET

“THE ZHAI: Dwell in China” Exhibition On-Site

New Arrivals

The “THE ZHAI: Dwell in China” communication matrix spans major domestic social media platforms, including WeChat Official Accounts, Xiaohongshu, Video Channels, and Douyin, while also maintaining synchronized updates on international platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. The opening day event was broadcast live across multiple platforms, including China Daily’s bilingual news site, Suzhou Release, iSuzhou, THE ZHAI’s official Douyin, and Video Channel accounts, garnering over 100,000 views.

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