Anthony Smith Fine Art's booth at the 14th Beijing International Art Expo. Photo: Guo Yingguang

Autumn is traditionally the harvest season and so it is for the art world too, this year: the 14th Beijing International Art Expo (BIAE), which closed Monday, sent seemingly healthy signs for the domestic scene.

The five-day long expo, held at the China World Trade Center in Beijing, had attracted more than 80 galleries and art spaces, the number itself showing a generally confident attitude to this year's autumn market.

Aside from those from large or small cities around China – this year was no longer just about featuring top-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai – galleries from over 16 other countries and regions, such as France, Italy and the US, also took part.

A wide range of works, including oil paintings, sculptures, installations, video art and photography were displayed at the 10,000 square meter-event, described as "the largest-ever in scale since the annual expo started in 1997," media spokesman Chen Zitong told the Global Times. She added that the number of participating galleries far exceeded the 60 they had last year.

Having organized the BIAE for years, Chen said it is the first time she has seen it so warmly welcomed by visitors during all five days.

"It used to be very crowded the opening day, but then people left and the exhibition hall suddenly became a bit quiet and isolated," she said. "This year, we saw viewers come in twos or three, observing works up until the last minute before we closed."

Although the total turnover volume will not be officially released till today, organizers say it should be much better than previous years. According to some reports, several galleries sold out during their first two days since opening last Thursday.

Each morning, visitors were lining outside to get in — the expo received nearly 10,000 visitors daily, according to organizers — a remarkable influx for a domestic art expo.

Among these enthusiastic visitors were art lovers who saw a chance to enjoy art from around the world, a smattering of veteran collectors looking for inspiring pieces, as well as new buyers to the scene.

For them, attending such an expo provides an opportunity to help find their tastes: expensive contemporary art works from big names like Zhang Xiaogang, Fang Lijun and Yue Minjun, were alongside artists born in the 1980s, whose works are comparatively much cheaper.

Aside from a series of Chinese galleries who came to show and sell their works, foreign participants also saw the expo as a good chance to present themselves in China, now one of the most dynamic art markets in the world.

Among the galleries and art spaces attending, those from abroad accounted for more than 30 percent of floor space, a sure sign that more foreign galleries are showing interest in Chinese art. Indeed, this year saw a range of new faces never seen in China before.

Anthony Smith Fine Art, an Australia-based gallery, is among those who came to Beijing for the first time to test the "market temperature."

With branches in several places like Australia and Thailand, owner Anthony Smith says he is "surely very confident" in the Chinese art market.

"The answer is quite simple," he answered, when asked why he is targeting China. "China has exceeded many countries as one of the most booming art markets… So it is undoubtable that there are many opportunities for gallery owners like me."

He brought with him dozens of oil paintings from overseas artists his gallery represents. "I'm quite sure… that Chinese collectors will be interested in works by foreign artists," Smith told the Global Times.

"Most [Chinese collectors] are buying works by native artists," he added. "But I think… their eyes will be broadening in the very near future. This is a country with immense vitality!"

As autumn comes, the global market is shaking off its summer vacation and preparing to get busy again. More art expos, as well as auctions, are forthcoming and the 14th BIAE may have just sent a confident signal.

"Will the Chinese art market stun the world again this summer? Let's just wait and see," says art observer art Zhang Yunqian, "I myself am still confident. We do have a lot of new collectors in recent years. There is no obvious reason for them to stop buying."