Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center and Minzu Square

The Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center anchors Minzu Avenue in Qingxiu District with a distinctive hibiscus-flower-shaped dome that has become one of the city's most recognisable landmarks, standing beside the open plaza of Minzu Square. The complex hosts the China-ASEAN Expo and other major trade fairs, so its exhibition halls are open to the general public only during scheduled events, but the surrounding plaza, fountains and the dome's exterior are accessible at all times. Visitors typically spend forty-five minutes to an hour walking the plaza, photographing the dome from multiple angles and taking in the surrounding cluster of government and commercial towers along Minzu Avenue. The building is most striking at dusk, when the dome and the tower-lined avenue are floodlit and the plaza fountains are illuminated, drawing local residents for evening walks. Daytime visits suit those wanting an uncrowded look at the architecture, while any visit coinciding with a major expo will find the plaza far busier with delegates, extra security and controlled access to the halls themselves.