Hong Kong illustrators showcase works at Shanghai children's book fair with government support
Hong Kong's Cultural and Creative Industries Office funded a Hong Kong pavilion at the Shanghai International Children's Book Fair, featuring illustrators from its "Flying Picture Books" scheme. Local illustrator Liu Qinghua was shortlisted in the Golden Windmill International Young Illustrators Con
The Cultural and Creative Industries Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has funded a Hong Kong pavilion at the Shanghai International Children's Book Fair, which opened on 15 November 2026. The pavilion showcases the work of illustrators supported by the third edition of the 'Flying Picture Books – Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme'.
Eight illustrators from the scheme are exhibiting at the fair, building on their participation at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy in April 2026. During the Shanghai fair, the illustrators are displaying their works, holding sharing sessions, and meeting publishers to explore market potential and business opportunities.
The 'Flying Picture Books' scheme also funds selected illustrators to create new works and enter international picture book or illustration competitions to raise their global profile. Local illustrator Liu Qinghua has been recognised at the Shanghai fair, with her work 'Humpback Whale, Going Home!' advancing to the final 50 of the 2026 Golden Windmill International Young Illustrators Contest, run by the Shanghai International Children's Book Fair. The contest drew more than 2,000 entries from 73 countries and regions.
In addition, the Hong Kong pavilion displays works by eight illustrators from the second edition of 'Flying Picture Books', as well as original picture books by 14 Hong Kong and two mainland Chinese illustrators, published under the Cultural and Creative Industries Office-funded 'Hong Kong Picture Book Publishing Support Scheme'. The exhibition aims to introduce publishers from around the world to high-quality Hong Kong picture books.