Canton Fair 139: 627K Inbound, Visas +13%; Visafree Up 56%
Key Takeaways
For International Travelers:
- Guangdong welcomed 627,000 inbound foreign nationals during the 139th Canton Fair (April 15–May 5, 2026), a 23.7% year-over-year surge (Source: Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department)
- Visa-free entries via Baiyun Airport Port alone reached 120,000, a 56% year-over-year increase, with nearly 50% of inbound foreigners staying 10+ days
- Foreign visa documents issued totaled 13,200, up 12.8% YoY; on-site visa processing at Pazhou and Nansha ports handled 115 on-the-spot applications
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Port recorded 1.14 million entry/exit movements (+14.5% YoY), with foreigners from 191 countries and regions, including first-time top-10 sources Australia and Indonesia
- A record 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries attended the Canton Fair, and entry procedures now support same-day processing with digital currency exchange integration
Content Outline
- Record-Breaking Inbound Traffic: 627,000 Foreigners Choose Guangdong
- Visa-Free Surge: 56% Growth Signals a New Era of Hassle-Free Entry
- Guangdong's Three-Pronged Immigration Convenience Strategy
- Beyond the Exhibition Hall: Visitors Stay Longer, Explore More
- Canton Fair: A Barometer of China's Openness and Economic Resilience
- Plan Your China Journey
Record-Breaking Inbound Traffic: 627,000 Foreigners Choose Guangdong
The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) concluded on May 5, 2026, cementing Guangdong Province's status as China's premier destination for international business travelers. According to data released May 7 by the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, the province received 627,000 inbound foreign nationals during the three-phase exhibition (April 15–May 5, 2026), a 23.7% year-over-year increase, underscoring the region's growing appeal as a global trade and investment hub.
Simultaneously, the province processed 13,200 foreign visa and travel document applications, marking a 12.8% year-over-year rise, reflecting both the surge in business travel demand and the efficiency of upgraded immigration services.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Port—a key gateway for Canton Fair attendees—recorded over 1.14 million entry/exit movements during the same period, up 14.5% YoY, with foreign national throughput exceeding 540,000, a 20.8% YoY jump that set a new record for the Canton Fair period. The scale of growth positions Guangdong as the clearest evidence that China's doors are wide open and getting easier to walk through.
Visa-Free Surge: 56% Growth Signals a New Era of Hassle-Free Entry
Perhaps the most striking indicator of China's easing entry environment is the performance of visa-free travel. At Baiyun Airport Port alone, visa-free inbound foreigners surged 56% year-over-year to 120,000—a clear signal that policy reforms are translating directly into travel volume.
The 240-hour transit visa exemption policy has been a transformative force. Since November 5, 2025, Pazhou Port—a waterfront terminal just a 5-minute walk from the Canton Fair exhibition halls—was added as a designated 240-hour transit visa entry point, enabling business travelers and tourists arriving via Hong Kong International Airport to proceed directly into Guangzhou without pre-arranging a visa. The measure has proven particularly popular among last-minute decision-makers.
The geographic diversity of inbound travelers further illustrates the broadening reach of China's opening-up policies. During the 139th Canton Fair, Baiyun Airport Port welcomed foreign nationals from 191 countries and regions. Beyond traditional source markets like Malaysia and South Korea, Australia and Indonesia entered the top-10 list of origin countries for the first time. Russia (+59%), the United Kingdom (+16%), and Canada (+40%) all posted significant growth.
International aviation connectivity is reinforcing this momentum. As of April 2026, Baiyun Airport's weekly international passenger flight capacity grew 10.1% year-over-year, providing the infrastructure backbone for sustained inbound growth.
Guangdong's Three-Pronged Immigration Convenience Strategy
Guangdong's public security immigration authorities implemented a comprehensive three-pillar strategy to streamline the entry experience for international guests:
1. Port-Side Visa Issuance: "Arrive and Get Your Visa"
Service counters were pre-positioned at Pazhou Waterway Passenger Port and Nansha Port, the two primary waterway entry points for international buyers. These temporary on-site visa facilities issued 115 port-entry visas during the exhibition. Critically, the initiative also included digital currency exchange machines at the visa counters, providing a seamless "visa + currency exchange" one-stop service that addressed a longstanding payment friction point for new arrivals.
2. Simplified Procedures: "Travel Light"
Foreign business visitors holding a Canton Fair invitation letter, buyer credential, or guest badge could apply for all categories of visa services—including applications, extensions, renewals, and replacements—using that single document as their primary supporting credential. An expedited processing channel ensured applications with urgent justifications were completed within 3 business days, ensuring zero delays for time-sensitive negotiations.
3. On-Site Exhibition Hall Presence: "Help When You Need It Most"
Immigration officers were stationed directly inside the Canton Fair exhibition halls, providing round-the-clock support for passport loss reports, visa expiry consultations, and emergency travel document requests. The on-site service desks handled over 300 consultations per day, achieving 100% same-day response to all visitor requests. A dedicated green channel prioritized emergency cases, ensuring every visitor could get help without disrupting their business schedule.
Beyond the Exhibition Hall: Visitors Stay Longer, Explore More
One of the most notable behavioral shifts during the 139th Canton Fair was the increasing willingness of international visitors to extend their stays beyond the exhibition period. At Baiyun Airport Port, the proportion of inbound foreigners holding visas or temporary entry permits with 停留期10天以上 (stays of 10+ days) reached nearly 50% of total inbound foreign nationals—a significant increase from previous editions.
This trend signals that business travelers are no longer limiting their China visits to transactional show floor appearances. Instead, many are blending professional engagements with tourism, exploring the Greater Bay Area's cultural landmarks, culinary scenes, and tech ecosystems. The integration of the Canton Fair with China's broader travel ecosystem is creating a compounding effect for inbound tourism across Guangdong.
Pazhou Port's trajectory illustrates this in miniature: buyer throughput grew from 6,000+ in 2023 (two sessions) to 16,000+ in 2024, over 20,000 in 2025, and projected 25,000+ in 2026—a compound annual growth rate of 82% over three years. The port, which connects directly to Hong Kong International Airport, has become known as the "Golden Waterway" for Canton Fair attendees, offering the unique "船舱门直达展馆门" (cabin door to exhibition hall door) seamless transit experience.
Canton Fair: A Barometer of China's Openness and Economic Resilience
Beyond the headline immigration numbers, the 139th Canton Fair delivered across every metric of trade and global engagement. A record 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions attended—up 1.1% from the 138th edition—solidifying the Canton Fair's title as "China's First Exhibition" and a barometer of global supply chain confidence.
Other highlights from the 139th Canton Fair:
- 407 leading purchasing enterprises and 154 international trade associations attended as organized delegations
- $25.7 billion USD in intended export transactions recorded on-site
- Over 32,000 exhibiting enterprises across 757,000 sqm of exhibition space
- 465 exhibition products on display, with new, green, and smart products each exceeding 20% of the total
- Over 600 new product launch events held concurrently, a 27% increase from the prior session
The growing presence of Western markets—including notable growth from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia—further underscores that global confidence in "Made in China" and China's role as a supply chain stabilizer remains robust, even amid geopolitical headwinds.
The 140th Canton Fair is scheduled for October 15–November 4, 2026.
Plan Your China Journey
With visa processing faster than ever, direct airport-to-exhibition transit options expanding, and over 220 nations represented at the Canton Fair, Guangdong is proving that visiting China for business—or combining business with leisure—is simpler than it has ever been.
Whether you're planning to attend the next Canton Fair, explore Guangzhou's culinary and cultural heritage, or experience the Greater Bay Area's tech-forward attractions, ChinaTravelPlus's expert team can craft a customized itinerary that maximizes every opportunity.
For International Travelers:
Ready to discover what 627,000 international visitors already know? Guangdong is open, accessible, and waiting to welcome you.
Ready to discover what 627,000 international visitors already know? Guangdong is open, accessible, and waiting to welcome you.
