Canton Fair: how to prepare for China's biggest trade show

The Canton Fair runs twice a year in three phases by product group — electronics and machinery, home goods and gifts, textiles and apparel. Check the dates for your specific phase in advance, as they don't align with the overall exhibition schedule.

Registering as a trade visitor takes time — an invitation from the organizing company or a business-travel agency speeds things up and often unlocks trade-only zones.

With thousands of booths on site, plan your route by hall number in advance rather than trying to cover everything — in 3-4 days you can realistically explore only a fraction of the fair.

Bring plenty of business cards and a ready product brief (specs, references, target price) — it dramatically speeds up negotiations right at the booth.

Most factories also have showrooms in Guangzhou after the fair — plan 1-2 extra days for visits to discuss samples and terms away from the exhibition rush.