Working Canton Fair 2026 for the first time.

The Canton Fair runs in phases by product category — exhibiting in the wrong phase means your buyers are in Guangzhou a week before or after you. Triple-check which phase your category belongs to before any booking.

Serious volume buyers come from everywhere, but hall logistics, officialdom, and neighbor relationships run smoother with Chinese language capability at the booth.

Cards and catalogs in English + Chinese. QR codes on everything — WeChat is the business card here.

Most nationalities need a visa, and the fair's invitation letter smooths both the visa and first entry. Start the paperwork a month out; the buyer badge is then typically free.

Suppliers quote, negotiate, and follow up on WeChat. Set it up (and WeChat Pay if you can) before you land; a business account name matching your card builds instant credibility.

Over a million square metres in Pazhou. Pick target halls per day, capture every supplier at the booth (photo of product + card + price talk), and never rely on remembering — by afternoon it's all one blur of booths.

Booth prices are opening positions. Collect specs and quotes broadly, then verify exporters' credentials and re-negotiate with the top three from home — this is where captured, structured data pays.

Multiple booths sometimes front the same factory through different trading companies. Ask directly: factory or trading company? Both are fine — but the price structure differs.