The Chinese Collectors Convention Shanghai 2008, the first wide-ranging art and antiques event of its kind in the area, will open on October 8 at the Shanghai International Convention Center.

About 800 participants, including Chinese collectors, dealers, critics and connoisseurs from home and abroad, will attend or give lectures at the show.

Big names like Wang Yannan, president of the Guardian Auction House Wang Shixiang, a world-renowned collector of Chinese ancient furniture and Chen Peiqiu, one of the best-known Chinese traditional artists, are on the list. This year's theme, "Collection: A Way to Civilization and Taste," is attuned to the current trend toward profit returns.

(Shanghai Daily September 27, 2008)