The offline carnival for the popular video platform Bilibili, known as BilibiliWorld 2024, or BW2024, concluded on July 14 in Shanghai, breaking attendance records and significantly impacting the city's economy.

A poster for BilibiliWorld 2024. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghai-yangpu]

The event turned into a paradise filled with anime, comics, and games (ACG), drawing a staggering number of participants and transforming Shanghai into a vibrant hub of creativity.

More than 615,000 people tried to book tickets for BW2024, with 27,000 priority tickets selling out in seconds and 100,000 ordinary tickets sold in just one minute.

The three-day event featured nine themed exhibition areas, covering a total area of about 170,000 square meters. It attracted over 700 exhibitors and over 800 uploaders – a popular term literally refers to people who upload things onto Bilibili.

Popular games such as Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero were showcased and attendees had a chance to try out new releases.

Lin, 18, dressed as God of Fortune at BW2024, came to Shanghai on July 12.

During his stay in Shanghai, Lin explored Shanghai-based Chinese video game development company miHoYo in Caohejing Hi-Tech Park and Bailian ZX creative center, a seven-floor mall on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street providing an immersive space of the ACGN (animation, comic, game and novel) culture.

JiuJiu, a fan of the video game Love and Deepspace, enjoyed the vibrant cosplay atmosphere and cherished nostalgic anime memories, saying "it was a hoot and everyone dresses up as their favorite characters."

The event not only attracted young fans but also garnered attention from older generations, including a 47-year-old uploader nicknamed Auntie Jiang.

"BW is extremely popular; everyone, including the staff and customers at my cosplay shop, was focused on their phones when the tickets were released," said Auntie Jiang.

As she moved between exhibition halls, recognizing game and anime characters as if they were her own. She said, "Doing what I love brings happiness, regardless of how old I am."

The diverse range of attendees, from seasoned cosplayers to first-time visitors like Lin, highlighted the inclusive and welcoming atmosphere of BW.

Local businesses have also benefited from the influx of visitors to the event.

Hotels near the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), where the event was held, experienced a surge in bookings, with some establishments selling out in advance.

The Bailian ZX creative center also saw increased foot traffic and business activity due to the event's popularity.

BW, along with other upcoming events like ChinaJoy (to be held from July 26 to 28), is expected to further boost Shanghai's ACG economy and propel the city's animation and gaming industry forward.

Sources: jfdaily.com, "shanghai-yangpu" WeChat account