The 91st China Export Commodity Fair opened Monday in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

Unlike the previous commodity fairs , the 91st will be divided into two shows to accommodate more exhibitors. The first runs from April 15 to 20 and the second from April 25 to 30.

The first will focus on raw materials, machinery, electronic appliances, textile and costume, food and medicine and the second on furniture, interior decoration and office equipment.

The exhibition area has been expanded and the number of businesses participating in the fair has increased by 75 percent to 8,429.

More than 500 exhibitors from 52 countries and regions have registered for the fair via the Internet.

The fair, China's oldest and largest, has been held in April and October every year since 1957.

( People's Daily April 16, 2002 )