The ARE Expo is Asia’s flagship event for the commercial and industrial refrigeration, air-conditioning, ventilation, heat-pump and cold-chain sectors. Scheduled every two years in Shanghai, the 2023 edition occupied 57,000 m² of the National Exhibition and Convention Center and welcomed 536 exhibitors from 16 countries plus 28,600 trade visitors. Organised by China Refrigeration and Industrial Refrigeration Association and co-located with the CRH exhibition, the four-day programme combined a technology show floor with a high-level congress that addressed the accelerated phase-down of HFCs under the Kigali Amendment and China’s 2060 carbon-neutrality target. The congress opened with a ministerial keynote on the national action plan for low-GWP refrigerants, followed by parallel tracks on natural refrigerants, high-efficiency compressors, ultra-low GWP foam blowing agents, and digital monitoring for cold-chain integrity. More than 60 technical papers were presented; highlights included the world-premiere of a 200 kW CO₂ transcritical rack with parallel compression for subtropical climates, a new low-charge ammonia screw package that cuts refrigerant volume by 40 %, and magnetic-bearing centrifugal chillers using R-1234ze(E) that deliver an IPLV above 10. A dedicated “Future Refrigeration” zone gathered 28 start-ups showcasing IoT sensors, AI-driven predictive maintenance and hydrocarbon micro-channel heat exchangers. Policy-oriented sessions featured officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, UN Environment, and the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment, who briefed delegates on upcoming safety-code revisions for flammable refrigerants and the expansion of China’s refrigerant-reclamation pilot. The exhibition sectors spanned refrigeration components, industrial compressors, cold-storage doors, insulation panels, refrigerant recovery machines, tools and accessories; 42 % of stands promoted natural refrigerants. Visitor badges were restricted to trade professionals—contracting engineers, wholesalers, supermarket energy managers, food processors, pharmaceutical logisticians and policy researchers. Academic and student delegations attended free of charge on the final day. The next ARE Expo is planned for November 2025 at the same venue; organisers expect 650 exhibitors and 35,000 visitors, with expanded pavilions for heat-pump drying and data-centre cooling.