An Iranian cultural representative shows a tapestry to a Chinese buyer at the 12th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, which opened Thursday in Shenzhen. [Photo by Qiu Quanlin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Transactions at the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industrial Fair, a flagship trade event of the country's cultural development, increased 23.42 percent year-on-year to more than 203 billion yuan ($31.1 billion), according to the organizers.

The five-day event ended on Monday in Shenzhen, a longtime testing ground for China's reform and opening up.

Of the transactions, 134 projects, each worth of over 100 million yuan in investment, were signed during the event, according to the organizers.

This year's event focused on the integration of culture and other industries and the growing trade of culture between China and countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Exports of cultural products were also up 7.35 percent year-on-year to 17.7 billion yuan during the event, which drew more than 5.87 million visitors.