The first Ningbo Fashion and Economy Forum was held in Jiangbei District last Saturday. Zhang Hui, a professor with the Fashion Institute of Zhejiang University of Technology, introduced a sensor bracelet that can monitor a person’s physical activities and health.

The Jiangbei government has set up a 5-million-yuan (US$759,500) fund to develop the fashion industry and is cooperating with the institute to turn the district into an industrial center for fashion enterprises.

The China Textile Engineering Society has moved to the district to support the city’s bid to become an international fashion center.

Jiangbei is attracting talented people from around the world to work in local fashion and cultural enterprises. The Old Bund area now has a 24-hour reading bar converted from a cargo container. Open-air cinema, flower market and more than 90 cultural events were held last year in the district, attracting over 200,000 participants.