Contemporary art fair sets up camp in downtown Chengdu

At the end of April, two large tents costing 3 million yuan ($470,000) were set up in the heart of Chengdu's commercial center to create a bespoke venue where artists, art lovers, dealers and collectors gathered for the first major contemporary art fair held in Southwest China.

From April 25 to 27, the Art Chengdu International Contemporary Art Fair transformed the downtown area of Sichuan's provincial capital into an art expo that saw 31 prominent Chinese and international galleries present the best of their contemporary art - paintings, photos, sculptures, installations and videos - by established and emerging artists from around the world.

Famously known for its panda sanctuary and spicy cuisine, Chengdu is also home to a burgeoning contemporary-art market that many industry insiders believe is set to boom.