Popular Zhuhai air show draws big crowds, over US$38 billion in orders

China’s biggest air show opened to the public from Friday, drawing large crowds keen to see some of the country’s most advanced weapons and aircraft up close.

Long queues snaked outside the entrance to the venue in the southern city of Zhuhai on Friday, with visitors waiting for over an hour to enter, according to videos and posts on social media.

According to state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday, this year’s show attracted nearly 600,000 visitors in all and more than 280 billion yuan (US$38.7 billion) in orders. That compares with US$39.8 billion in orders two years ago and US$40 billion in 2016.

The biennial event – also known as the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition – has grown in popularity in recent years and is now of comparable size to the world’s largest air show, held in Paris.

The first three days of the event were reserved for professional visitors and overseas representatives before it opened to the general public for the last three days.

Visitors could watch advanced stealth fighters in thrilling aerial displays: China’s J-35A, which made its debut on Tuesday, and the J-20, and Russia’s Su-57. The Russian Knights aerobatic team was back after an eight-year absence, part of a strong Russian presence at this year’s air show.