Business Trips to China & Canton Fair Tours
We plan and run business trips to China: factory visits, the Canton Fair and other trade fairs, markets such as Yiwu, with a bilingual guide alongside you.
3 min readUpdated
At a glance
- We plan the trip around the factories, fairs and markets you want to see.
- Meetings are booked before you fly, and a bilingual guide comes with you.
- The Canton Fair runs twice a year in Guangzhou, each time in three phases.
- We help with hotels, trains and visas, so you can focus on the suppliers.
What's included
- Planning an itinerary around the factories and fairs you want to see
- Booking factory visits and meetings in advance
- A bilingual guide and interpreter for your visits
- Help with hotels, trains and getting around
What you receive
A planned trip with meetings booked, someone beside you who speaks Chinese, and notes from every visit.
Get a free quoteWhy visit China in person
Seeing a factory, handling the products and meeting the owner tells you things that no video call can. A well-planned trip can shortlist suppliers, settle samples and build relationships in a week.
A badly planned trip, though, means long journeys between half-empty showrooms. Planning is what makes the difference.
What we arrange
- An itinerary built around your products, with factories grouped by area to save travel time.
- Meetings booked in advance, so the right people are there when you arrive.
- A bilingual guide who comes to every visit, translates, and asks the questions you might not know to ask.
- Help with hotels, high-speed trains, domestic flights and transfers.
- Notes and photos from every visit, so you can compare suppliers afterwards.
- Follow-up after you leave: samples, quotes and orders, through our sourcing service.
The Canton Fair
The China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, is the biggest trade fair in China. It's held twice a year at the fair complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou, and each session is split into three phases of about five days, each covering different product groups.
| Phase | Usual timing | Main product groups |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Mid April / mid October | Electronics, home appliances, machinery, vehicles, hardware, new energy |
| Phase 2 | Late April / late October | Housewares, kitchenware, gifts, decorations, furniture, building materials |
| Phase 3 | Early May / early November | Textiles, garments, shoes, toys, bags, office supplies, health and food |
Our Canton Fair guide for buyers covers registration, planning your days and what to ask exhibitors.
Most buyers only need one phase, so pick the one that matches your products. Overseas buyers register with the fair online for a buyer badge, and the fair can issue an invitation letter for your visa.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us about your product and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
How we help at the Canton Fair
- 1Choosing the right phase and planning which halls and booths to visit.
- 2Help registering for your buyer badge, and booking a hotel near the fair early.
- 3A bilingual guide at the fair, to talk to exhibitors, ask for prices and MOQs, and note everything down.
- 4Factory visits after the fair, to check that the suppliers you met really make what they showed.
- 5Following up on quotes and samples once you're home.
A stand at a fair doesn't prove a supplier is a factory. Plenty of exhibitors are traders. A visit to the production site is the best way to be sure, and our factory audit checklist shows what to look at.
Other trips we plan
| Trip | Good for |
|---|---|
| Factory tours around Suzhou, Shanghai and Zhejiang | Textiles, packaging, home goods, electronics, machinery |
| Yiwu International Trade City | Small goods, gifts, accessories and mixed orders |
| Other trade fairs in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou | Industry-specific shows |
| A single supplier visit | Meeting a factory before a big order, or checking production |
Before you travel
- Check whether you need a visa. Many nationalities can now visit for up to 30 days visa-free, and our visa help page explains the options.
- Set up a way to pay. Most payments in China are made with mobile apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, which can now link to many foreign cards.
- Plan for internet access, as some foreign apps and websites don't work in China without a roaming plan or other arrangements.
- Bring business cards, and samples or photos of what you want to buy.
Common questions
When is the next Canton Fair?
The fair runs every spring (mid April to early May) and autumn (mid October to early November). Check the official Canton Fair website for the exact dates of each session.
Do I need a guide at the Canton Fair?
You can visit on your own, but many exhibitors speak limited English, and a guide helps you get real prices, MOQs and details, and saves time.
Can you arrange factory visits after the fair?
Yes. Most of our clients combine the fair with a few factory visits, so they can see production for themselves.
Can you help with my visa for the trip?
Yes. We check whether you need one, and for trips we arrange we can provide the invitation letter. See our visa help page.