What will the 7th China AFOL Festival (CAF), opening today, actually look like? Yesterday, I arrived in Shanghai with Mr.Kuriosity and headed straight to the venue for some early behind-the-scenes coverage.
This year’s CAF is set in the quiet, picturesque Fengjing Town. As you approach, you can already see the directional signs in place, ready to welcome visitors. The entrance is marked by a bold truss archway you can’t miss.
The venue itself is the Fengjing Town Bus Transit Hub — a unique, semi-circular building blending Chinese and Western architectural styles.
When I arrived, the flags of the seven officially recognized LEGO® User Groups (RLUGs) in China were already fluttering outside the venue.
In the small square, the event’s main visual KV has been fully installed — it’s bound to be a top photo spot for AFOLs today.
The parking areas are reserved for exhibitors, but if you’re driving in, there are lots on both the east and west sides of the venue, just a short walk away.
The main entrance for visitors is clearly marked — make sure you look for it when you arrive!
The exhibition hall is on the third floor, with all booths laid out evenly along both sides of the curved corridor — perfect for strolling and browsing.
The venue is divided into five sections: A, B, C, D, and E, covering the RLUG showcase, independent builder displays, competition zones, a flea market, and the AFOL Workshop.
Tip: Save a copy of the floor plan in advance so you can find your way quickly. KU WAN CHAO will be in Zone 12!
When I got there, many exhibitors were already setting up, carefully assembling their creations and arranging their displays. The first glimpses of the competition entries were already hinting at the excitement to come.
At each booth, familiar faces were hard at work. Which builders and which MOCs they brought — I’ll reveal in detail tomorrow. For now, here’s just a little teaser.
Yesterday was my first time seeing so many of China’s top LEGO builders working together in the same space — the energy made me even more excited for the event!
AFOL veteran Fat Tiger Toys is back again this year with his antique-level LEGO collection. I can’t wait to see how many rare, discontinued sets he’ll be showing this time!
One of this year’s highlights is the 10358 Transformers: Soundwave in-box MOC competition. Builders have taken Soundwave’s iconic color scheme and transformed it into dozens of completely different forms — this “Cybertronian pop star” is proving just as versatile as last year’s Bumblebee!
And that’s not even all — there are many more jaw-dropping creations that I’ll keep under wraps until tomorrow.
For now, I’m off to rest up so I can give you a full in-depth tour tomorrow — a true LEGO feast for AFOLs.
If you’d like to capture your own MOC in its best light, stop by the photography booth to the right of the main stage — we’ll be shooting builder creations here once my interviews are wrapped up.
For everyone who’s already got their ticket — see you tomorrow!