The Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone hosted the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2026 on March 12, offering a "zero-time-difference" business experience.

The 0.88-square-kilometer zone, located just 15 minutes from Pudong International Airport, has introduced a visa-free policy for invited overseas attendees, allowing them to enter without a Chinese visa and stay for up to 30 days.

Visitors explore the AWE exhibition. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Many Pudong-based enterprises showcased cutting-edge technologies at the exhibition. YobiAI, a first-time exhibitor focusing on AI-powered industrial safety systems, demonstrated its flagship product capable of responding within 80 milliseconds to ensure worker safety. "The Eastern Hub is like a 'super gateway' to the world, bringing global markets closer together," said Yao Xiao, founder and CEO of YobiAI.

Eighteen companies from Zhangjiang AI Innopark presented a full ecosystem of smart technologies. Lumimind, a neural technology startup affiliated to Yansi Brain AI Research Institute, unveiled its Brain Electrical Sleep Monitor "Lumisleep", marking its Asian debut. It previously appeared at the 2026 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

A participant experiences the EEG sleep monitor Lumisleep at the exhibition. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Low-altitude economy products also drew crowds. Vertaxi showcased its 2-metric-ton eVTOL M1 "air taxi", which is expected to cut travel time from the Eastern Hub to Suzhou's Jinji Lake to about 15 minutes, with fares comparable to ordinary taxis.

The exhibition also featured humanoid robots from Agibot and smart glasses from XREAL, developed in collaboration with Google. For many Pudong-based enterprises, the Eastern Hub serves as a direct global launchpad, providing international partners with immediate access to Chinese innovation.