Where technology intersects with culture: The 2025 Hainan Southeast Tech & Art Festival is set to commence on July 25.

      Lingshui, a coastal county in Hainan province, southern China, will host the 2025 Hainan Southeast Tech & Art Festival from July 25-27. Under the theme "Empowering Art with Technology, Innovation Leading the Future," the festival aims to gather participants from technology, culture, and creative industries.

      The three-day event will feature over 15 significant activities and exhibitions, with more than 100 companies and organizations expected to attend. Taking place in Haigui Town of Lingshui, the festival highlights the impact of emerging technologies on cultural expression, while also showcasing China's ongoing initiatives to promote technology and design internationally.

      During the festival, TechNode, in partnership with TNGlobal, will organize the main competition for the 2025 HaiNan SoutEast Asia AI Hardware Battle (HNSE AHB). TechNode will curate the technology interactive exhibition segment, collaborating with the event's organizers and participating companies to create an engaging tech display for attendees.

      **Opening Ceremony: Global Conversations with Local Roots**

      The festival will kick off with an opening ceremony and Outbound Moment Summit at 4 PM on July 25. The program will include a mix of artistic performances, public discussions, and product launches, highlighting how China’s technology and creative sectors are expanding globally while staying connected to local cultural identities. Key agenda items include:

      - An opening video and cultural fashion show showcasing designers’ modern takes on Hainan’s traditional aesthetics.

      - The Sea of Stories podcast featuring voice actor Ji Guanlin, psychologist Jiang Zhenyu, and representatives from Litchi FM and Haima Xingkong.

      - A conversation between TechNode's founder Dr. Lu Gang and Jiang Zhenyu, president of the Institute of Micro-Reaction Science, focusing on the cultural stories behind China's technology export movement.

      - An investment roundtable with participants from China Growth Capital, Yuanze Capital, OPPO Ventures, and Yicai Capital, discussing capital’s role in technology globalization.

      - An innovation roundtable uniting executives from Green Funding, Chuhai Yiding, and Gobi Partners to explore new models and trends in tech exports.

      - The Hainan International Designer Competition, promoting digital design as a medium for global cultural exchange.

      - The premiere of the animated short Legend of Li Brocade, inspired by the traditional weaving of the Li ethnic group.

      - A concluding official activation ceremony with representatives from various sectors.

      **Exhibitions, Interactive Spaces, and Live Performances**

      Throughout the three-day festival, Haigui Town in Lingshui will host numerous public exhibitions and interactive installations engaging both industry participants and general audiences. Key highlights include:

      - A tech interactive expo featuring over 100 companies showcasing innovations in XR, robotics, AI, and smart hardware.

      - A tech workshop, organized in collaboration with the local labor union, designed for participants of all ages to engage in hands-on activities combining science, art, and education.

      - An EV showcase bringing together 31 leading automotive brands, including Tesla, BYD, Toyota, and VW, to reveal their latest electric models and sustainable mobility solutions.

      - The Shuangfanshi music festival, offering two nights of live performances from pop and hip-hop artists against a picturesque coastal backdrop.

      **Immersive Theater Program**

      An interactive theater experience titled Short Drama Base Camp will run alongside the festival, inviting participants to engage in live-action scenarios across five themed sets: castle, casino, courtroom, boxing gym, and hospital, blending scripted performances with audience participation.

      **Innovation-Focused Competitions**

      Two significant competitions will occur during the festival:

      - The HaiNan SoutEast Asia AI Hardware Battle, featuring 23 startups pitching to judges from Gobi Partners, INCE Capital, OPPO Skyrim, Green Funding, and TechNode. Winning teams will receive policy support, market access in Japan, and a spot to exhibit at BEYOND Expo 2026.

      - The VPC University Virtual Production Finals, where student teams will present original works in virtual filmmaking and real-time digital media, concluding with an awards ceremony and public screening.

      **Public Events: Culture, Design, and Culinary Experiences**

      Various public activities will be available, combining cultural exhibits, local design, and culinary experiences:

      - The Go Wild in Lingshui Street Carnival with folk dance, street music, and food stalls.

      - The International Creative Market showcasing art toys, NFT works, and cross-border design collaborations.

      - The Lingshui Souvenirs Market featuring local crafts, AR installations, and regional snacks.

      - The Landing on Moonlight Island Sensory Maze, offering a five-sense exploration space with interactive storytelling and themed challenges.

      - The Asian Food Festival serving regional specialties like tom yum skewers, Vietnamese spring rolls, Adobo chicken, teppanyaki, and coconut-based desserts.

      **A Platform for International Engagement**

      The festival is part of a broader initiative to establish Hainan as a regional hub for cross-border innovation, utilizing the Hainan Free Trade Port policy