An official application for the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) was launched on October 31.

Having been developed by Tencent Group, Ctrip Group, Meituan-Dianping and Tongji University's Positioning and Navigation Laboratory for six months, the app includes two sections -- an expo tour guide and a Shanghai tour guide.

Users can view information not only related to the exhibition - including an introduction, schedule and news - but also many aspects of Shanghai such as food, housing, transportation, entertainment and travel.

According to Zhang Lijun, vice president of Tencent Group, this app does not need to be downloaded; users can get access to Expo information and Shanghai culture in multiple languages just by scanning the code. Liu Erwu, director of the Positioning and Navigation Laboratory of Tongji University said that the app has adopted China’s first self-developed indoor digital navigation technology and is a demonstration of China’s scientific and technological strength.

As Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the Bureau of CIIE described, the app is expected to provide "the most detailed information and the most effective guidance" for foreign guests.

A Wechat game “Panda Jinbao” which takes Jinbao, the mascot of the expo as the protagonist, was launched on the same day. In the game, players can play the role of Jinbao, carry out trade activities with merchants from all over the world at the market, collect all kinds of rare treasures, learn about various customs, and enjoy the joyful atmosphere of the expo in the virtual world.