Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair)

The China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, has been held in Guangzhou since 1957 and is organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre under the Ministry of Commerce. It is the single largest sourcing event in China by exhibitor count and by visitor numbers, and for many foreign buyers the first physical contact with Chinese manufacturing.

Each session is divided into three phases of five days at the Canton Fair Complex in Pazhou, one of the largest exhibition buildings in the world. Phase 1 covers electronics and household appliances, lighting, vehicles and parts, machinery, hardware and tools, building materials, chemicals and energy; Phase 2 covers consumer goods, gifts and decorations, home furnishings and ceramics; Phase 3 covers textiles and garments, shoes, office supplies, cases and bags, recreation, food, health products and medical devices. An import pavilion hosts foreign exhibitors selling into China.

Exhibitors are overwhelmingly Chinese manufacturers and trading companies, allocated space through provincial trade delegations; buyers come from every trading region, with Belt and Road countries, Europe and the Americas the largest groups. The fair reported about 289,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions at its 137th session in spring 2025.

Registration is free for overseas buyers who pre-register online with a passport and company details; a Buyer's Badge gives access to all phases of a session and, on request, an invitation letter that supports a business (M) visa application. Most buyers from Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Korea now enter visa-free.

The fair also runs online year-round on its digital platform, but the physical sessions remain the place where samples are handled, factories are met and orders are negotiated. Hotels in Guangzhou fill and prices rise sharply during each phase; booking two months ahead is standard.