Home / Canton Fair 2026: Business Travel & Sourcing Guide

Canton Fair 2026: Business Travel & Sourcing Guide

Guangzhou skyline at night
CANTON FAIR 2026 · 第 140 届
Canton Fair 2026: Plan Your Sourcing Trip Before, During & After the Show

October 15 opens the 140th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou. We help overseas buyers with visa & invitation, Pazhou transport, factory visits across China's manufacturing belts, and leisure extensions for families and teams.

Planning more than the fair? Supplier liaison, factory visits, sourcing support, interpretation, negotiation and hosted evenings are handled by our Business Travel & Trade Services desk - see the business hub →

The 140th Canton Fair at a Glance
Phase 1
Oct 15–19
Electronics, home appliances, industrial automation, machinery, new energy, vehicles, lighting, hardware, tools, service robots
Phase 2
Oct 23–27
Ceramics, kitchenware, home & gifts, furniture, building materials & bath, décor
Phase 3
Oct 31–Nov 4
Toys, apparel, textiles, footwear, bags, pharma, food, sports, pets
Switch-over windows (Oct 20–22 & Oct 28–30) are the golden gaps for factory visits and side trips — booths closed, but cities are open.
1.55Mm²
Exhibition area
About 1.55 million m² across Pazhou Complex, Guangzhou
314K
Overseas buyers
139th session drew 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries & regions (+1.1%, record high)
$25.7B
On-site intent
139th session recorded US$25.7 billion in intended export deals
Before the Fair: Get Ready
🛂
Visa & Entry
Most European, ASEAN, ANZ and Middle East passports enjoy 30-day visa-free entry; 240-hour transit covers connections. Check our entry tools before booking.
✉️
Invitation & Pre-registration
Overseas buyers pre-register on the official Canton Fair site and may request an invitation letter from exhibitors. We assist with the paperwork.
✈️
Flights & Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) is visa-free capable for many nationalities. Book early — October is peak season for the fair.
🏨
Stay Near Pazhou
Pazhou, Zhujiang New Town and Panyu are the practical bases. Rates rise for the fair; lock rooms 2–3 months ahead.
💳
Payments
Link Alipay or WeChat to an international card, and keep some cash. Both work at most fair-area merchants.
📇
Business Kit
Name cards, a sample book, a translation app, and basic card etiquette go a long way in the halls.
During the Fair: Work the Show
🚇
Getting to Pazhou
Metro Line 8 to Pazhou / Xingangdong, plus shuttle buses and taxis. Allow buffer — the complex is huge.
🪪
On-site Services
Badge collection, translation desks, negotiation rooms and food courts are inside the halls.
🧭
Work Efficiently
Plan by zone and phase, use the official app for booth navigation and AI notes, and book trade-matching slots.
🗓️
Daily Rhythm
See booths in the morning, negotiate after lunch, and review leads each evening while details are fresh.
After the Fair: China's Manufacturing Belts

Many buyers pre-book factory visits after the show — the fair is where you meet; the belts are where you verify. We arrange transport, translation and accompany.

Shenzhen & Dongguan
Shenzhen & Dongguan
Electronics, hardware, smart manufacturing, furniture & building materials. 1–2h from Guangzhou by high-speed rail.
Yiwu & Zhejiang
Yiwu & Zhejiang
The world's wholesale market — small goods, gifts, accessories. Best on a switch-over day or after the fair.
Guangzhou & Foshan / Zhongshan / Shantou
Guangzhou & Foshan / Zhongshan / Shantou
Beauty & daily chem (Guangzhou), furniture (Foshan), lighting (Zhongshan), toys & underwear (Shantou).
Beyond the Fair: Five Ways to Travel

The fair is the reason to come — but buyers also explore, dine and travel with teams and families. Pick what fits.

Business & Factory
Business & Factory
Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Shantou, Yiwu
2–5 days
City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing
Shamian, Pearl River night cruise, dim sum, Chen Clan Academy; plus Shenzhen, Hong Kong & Macao
1–3 days
Leisure Escape
Leisure Escape
Guilin & Yangshuo, Zhangjiajie, Hainan, Yunnan
3–5 days
Culture & Food
Culture & Food
Shunde, Chaozhou, Kaiping watchtowers, Lingnan gardens, Cantonese tea
1–3 days
Family & Kids
Family & Kids
Chimelong resorts, ocean parks, science museums — for buyers travelling with family
1–2 days
Official data backs this up: during the 139th fair, Guangzhou issued 33,800 tax-refund slips (¥139M), its "FAIR 2 CITY" campaign drew 5,800+ visitors (¥137M), and ran 200+ consumer and 200+ cultural events.
Ready-Made Business & Sourcing Tours

Bookable routes we run for buyers — from Yiwu sourcing to Shenzhen tech traceability and Greater Bay Area discovery.

Yiwu 采购
Yiwu Business: 5-Day Efficient Sourcing & Resource Connection Tour
Yiwu Business: 5-Day Efficient Sourcing & Resource Connection Tour
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Yiwu Business Trip: 5-Day Efficient Sourcing & Resource Connection Tour
Yiwu Business Trip: 5-Day Efficient Sourcing & Resource Connection Tour
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Yiwu Elite Sourcing: 5-Day Supply Chain Optimization & Industry Summit Tour
Yiwu Elite Sourcing: 5-Day Supply Chain Optimization & Industry Summit Tour
View product →
深圳 / 硬件供应链
Shenzhen · Tech Giants & Hardcore Innovation Traceability Tour: 5 Days, 4 Nights Tencent & Huaqiangb
Shenzhen · Tech Giants & Hardcore Innovation Traceability Tour: 5 Days, 4 Nights Tencent & Huaqiangb
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Shenzhen · Tech Giants & Hardcore Innovation Traceability Tour: 5 Days, 4 Nights Tencent &
Shenzhen · Tech Giants & Hardcore Innovation Traceability Tour: 5 Days, 4 Nights Tencent &
View product →
China Hardware & Supply Chain Explorer - 5-Day Manufacturing Tour
China Hardware & Supply Chain Explorer - 5-Day Manufacturing Tour
View product →
大湾区城市
Greater Bay Area Urban Explorer — Shenzhen & Guangzhou 5 Days / 4 Nights
Greater Bay Area Urban Explorer — Shenzhen & Guangzhou 5 Days / 4 Nights
View product →
China Speed: Greater Bay Area Travel Discovery Tour | 5D4N Guangzhou-Shenzhen Tech & Culinary
China Speed: Greater Bay Area Travel Discovery Tour | 5D4N Guangzhou-Shenzhen Tech & Culinary
View product →
湖南智造
Hunan · Intelligent Manufacturing & Digital Media Business Mission
Hunan · Intelligent Manufacturing & Digital Media Business Mission
View product →
云南商帮 / 农业
Yunnan Highland Agriculture & Trade Mission: 5-Day Sourcing & Market Insight Tour
Yunnan Highland Agriculture & Trade Mission: 5-Day Sourcing & Market Insight Tour
View product →
Yunnan Merchant Legend & Ancient Town Economy: 4-Day Business Study Tour
Yunnan Merchant Legend & Ancient Town Economy: 4-Day Business Study Tour
View product →
广东生活配套
Guangdong Wellness Journey: Guangzhou Luxury Bathhouse & Lingnan Culture 5-Day Healing Tour
Guangdong Wellness Journey: Guangzhou Luxury Bathhouse & Lingnan Culture 5-Day Healing Tour
View product →
Cantonese Slow Life: 5-Day Culinary & Garden Secret Tour
Cantonese Slow Life: 5-Day Culinary & Garden Secret Tour
View product →
Chaoshan Food Odyssey: 3-Day Private Tour | Chaozhou, Shantou & Nan'ao Island
Chaoshan Food Odyssey: 3-Day Private Tour | Chaozhou, Shantou & Nan'ao Island
View product →
What We Handle for You
✓ Airport transfers, business vehicles, negotiated hotel rates
✓ Translation & interpretation (fair and factory)
✓ Factory-visit scheduling and on-site accompany
✓ Business dining & client hosting
✓ Group handling for 10+ (Luppy)
✓ Custom B2B itineraries in 48h (Sam)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Canton Fair phase should I attend?

Phase 1 (Oct 15–19) covers electronics, machinery, new energy and hardware; Phase 2 (Oct 23–27) covers home, gifts and building materials; Phase 3 (Oct 31–Nov 4) covers apparel, food and toys. Pick by your category — many buyers come for two phases.

How do I get an invitation letter?

Overseas buyers pre-register on the official Canton Fair site and can request an invitation from exhibitors. We help prepare the supporting documents.

Business visa or 240-hour transit?

Many nationalities now enter visa-free for 30 days; the 240-hour transit scheme covers connecting itineraries. Check our entry tools, or ask us with your passport.

Where should I stay?

Pazhou (walk to halls), Zhujiang New Town (comfort + metro) and Panyu are the practical choices. Book 2–3 months ahead — fair-period rates climb.

I don't speak Chinese — can I manage?

Yes. We provide translation at the fair and during factory visits, plus an app and a human planner in chat for the whole trip.

How do I reach Yiwu or Shenzhen for factory visits?

High-speed rail connects Guangzhou to Shenzhen in ~30 min and to Yiwu in ~5–6 h. We schedule visits on switch-over days or after the fair.

How many days after the fair do I need?

A factory trip needs 2–5 days per belt; a leisure extension 3–5 days. Most buyers plan 7–10 days total around the fair.

Can you issue an invoice (Fapiao)?

Yes — our tours are invoiced per China rules. Tell us your company details when booking and we handle the paperwork.

What if I bring family?

Family members can do city sightseeing, food tours or Chimelong while you work the halls. See the Family & Kids option above.

What is Guangzhou like in October?

Warm and humid, around 25–30°C early October, easing to the low 20s by early November. Light layers; one jacket for evening and indoor A/C.

Ready to Plan Your Canton Fair Trip?

Custom itinerary in 48h · Groups of 10+ fully handled · Factory visits across China

Email Sam — Custom Plan (48h)WhatsApp SamEmail Luppy — Groups 10+

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