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.

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.
1.55M
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
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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
View product →
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
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
View product →
云南商帮 / 农业
Yunnan Highland Agriculture & Trade Mission: 5-Day Sourcing & Market Insight Tour
View product →
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
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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