Even more international brands will participate in the second Asia Outdoor than at the 2006 premiere event. Leading companies such as Mountain Hardware, Mountainsmith (USA), Millet (France), vaude, Lowa, Meindl, Deuter, Big Pack, Tatonka, Highpeak, Exxtasy (German brands), Northland (Austria), Black Yak, Cerro Torre and Nepa (Korea), as well as leading Chinese brands such as Kailas, Mobi Garden, Nikko, K2 Summit, Acme, Pitopran and Doite have already registered for the event in Nanjing.
Earlier this year, 158 exhibitors had already registered to participate – a 40-percent increase over the same time last year. Organisers of Outdoor 2007 are expecting approximately 30 percent more brands (2006: 174 stands) and more than 10,000 trade visitors (2006: 6,743).
Asia Outdoor premiered in 2006 and is a joint project of Messe Friedrichshafen and the Nanjing International Exhibition Center. In its opening year, supply contracts totalling approximately 30 million RMB (3.2 million euros) were signed at the exhibition. Exhibitors praised the success of Asia Outdoor and 92 percent of the participating companies quickly signed up to return for this year's event. Many new Chinese companies and newcomers from all sectors of the outdoor industry will exhibit at the 2007 event.
The sideline programme at the second Asia Outdoor will include an outdoor event, a test centre for footwear and backpacks, a fashion show, party, climbing competition, “Tent City” and the Asia Outdoor Industry Forum. A new feature at this year's trade show will be a forum for shopping mall and department store managers hosted by Asia Outdoor and COCA (China Outdoor Commerce Association). Leading international experts will discuss “the future of the outdoor business sector in department stores and shopping malls.”
Nanjing has a wealth of important cultural sites and beautiful natural landscapes. It is one of 24 cities first featured on the Chinese government's list of culturally and historically significant cities. Nanjing's well known attractions include the Ming Dynasty Mausoleum, the old city walls, the stone monuments of the southern Tang Dynasty, its Buddhist temple and much more. A major media highlight at the 2007 Asia Outdoor Trade Show will be the Nanjing Urban Adventure Race on 25 August. Competitive outdoor events like this have become popular in all Chinese provinces.
