How to visit Canton Fair? A Comprehensive Guide to the 134th Canton Fair in Autumn 2023

September 6, 2023

Introduction:

The 134th Canton Fair, scheduled for Autumn 2023, will take place at the Guangzhou Canton Fair Complex. Organized by China Foreign Trade Centre and co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the Canton Fair is one of the largest and most significant international trade events globally.

Fair Schedule and Phases: The Canton Fair has made some adjustments to its exhibition areas for the 134th session. It will be divided into three phases, each featuring different categories of products:

Phase 1 (October 15-19):

Household Electrical Appliances
Consumer Electronics and Information Products
Electronic and Electrical Products
Lighting Equipment
New Energy Resources
New Materials and Chemical Products
Hardware, Tools, Machining Machinery, and Equipment
Power and Electrical Equipment
General Machinery and Mechanical Parts
Industrial Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing
Construction Machinery
Agricultural Machinery
New Energy Vehicles and Smart Mobility
Motorcycles
Bicycles
Vehicle Spare Parts
Vehicles

Phase 2 (October 23-27):

Building and Decoration Materials
Sanitary and Bathroom Equipment
Furniture
Kitchen and Tableware
Daily-use Ceramics
Household Items
Clocks, Watches, and Optical Instruments
Gifts and Premiums
Festival Products
Home Decorations
Art Ceramics
Glass Artware
Gardening Products
Woven, Rattan, and Iron Products
Iron and Stone Decorations
Outdoor Spa Facilities

Phase 3 (October 31 – November 5):

Personal Care Appliances
Bathroom Products
Medicines, Health Products, and Medical Devices
Pet Products
Maternity and Baby Products
Toys
Children’s Clothing
Men’s and Women’s Clothing
Sportswear and Casual Wear
Underwear
Fur, Leather, Down, and Related Products
Clothing Accessories and Fittings
Home Textiles
Textile Raw Materials and Fabrics
Carpets and Tapestries
Shoes
Office Supplies
Bags and Suitcases
Sports and Tourism Leisure Products
Food
Rural Revitalization

Venue: Canton Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China

Pros and Cons

Pros of Attending the Canton Fair:

Massive Trade Fair: The Canton Fair is one of the world’s largest trade fairs, featuring a vast array of products and attracting over 200,000 visitors and 25,000 exhibitors.
Foreigner-Friendly: The fair is export-oriented and highly foreigner-friendly. English-speaking volunteers, signposts, and representatives are available to assist foreign visitors, making communication and navigation convenient.
Build Relationships: Meeting suppliers and manufacturers in person allows for the establishment of strong business relationships, aiding in negotiations, quality control, and timely deliveries.

Cons of Attending the Canton Fair:

Limited Detailed Guides: The fair lacks comprehensive guides or magazines for specific industry categories or exhibitor lists, which can make it challenging to find relevant information.
Unorganized Layout: Booths are not always grouped by product type, necessitating extensive walking to locate desired products.
High Competition: The presence of thousands of buyers, including potential competitors, can make it challenging to secure the full attention of exhibitors.

How to register for the Canton Fair

How to register for the Canton Fair and get a badge?

The registration and verification for overseas buyers is available now. To register or verify, please go to https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/register/index and click “Overseas Buyer.”

For Chinese mainland citizens, please go to https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/posts/602072867751886848

The only way to get the buyer badge is to go to the Canton Fair Registration Offices in person. To save everyone time, pre-registered attendees can pick up their badges at the registration office’s Express Channels.

The Buyer card(badge) is the only official admission to Canton Fair. The badge is valid for multiple sessions of the fair, over the course of several years.

Registration Offices

You can register when you get to these 3 Buyer Registration Offices below.

1. Registration Offices set up in cooperation with hotels

2. Registration Offices set up in China Import and Export Fair Complex

Overseas Buyers’ Registration Position:

Road opposite of Area A west side
Road opposite of Area B Eastside
Hall 16.1 Area C

3. Registration Offices set up in Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office

Address: Room 3106 – 3107, Office Tower, Convention Plaza, No.1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Customer Service Hotline: (852)2877 1318
Fax: (852) 2838 3169
Email:cs@cantonfair.org.cn
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 12:30 pm & 2 pm to 5 pm; Closed on Saturday, Sunday and in Hong Kong Public Holidays
Website: http://hk.cantonfair.org.cn/en/commondetail.aspx?oid=18807

Badge-getting Express Channel for Online Pre-application Buyers at Registration Offices

Documents Requested:

Online pre-applied Receipt.
Personal documents(Overseas passport, HK/Macau Home-return Permit, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate, Valid Id as Overseas Chinese, or Chinese Passports with an above-one-year overseas work visa);

Notes:

Pre-applied buyers don’t need to give photos.
The badge can be effectively used for multiple sessions, re-application due to losing or forgetting taking it will be charged 200RMB, kindly keep it safe.
The old badge would become invalid right after re-application, please ensure the badge you wear is the newest.

Registration Documents Requested Table

Buyers	Documents Requested	Registration Venues
Paper Invitation/E-Invitation Holders	a. Paper Invitation Card or E-Invitation issued by Canton Fair b. Personal documents (More details, please see notes) c. A recent photo with the size of 5cm X 4cm d. Name Card	China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Online Pre-Apply for Badge	a. Notice for Acquiring Cards b. Personal documents (More details, please see notes) c. Name Card	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Non-Invitation Buyers who have been to Canton Fair	Buyer Card for the past Canton Fair	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Non-Invitation Buyers	a. Personal documents (More details, please see notes). b. A recent photo with the size of 5cm X 4cm c. Name Card d. Service Charge	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Representatives of Foreign Company’s Representative Office in China	a. Copy of Business Registration Certificate of Foreign Company’s Representative Office in China b. The Employee’s ID Card & Copy c. A most recent personal photo d. Name Card (Only one local representative is allowed for each overseas company and must be accompanied and signature-confirmed by buyers of the relative overseas company)	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex

Document Notes

Personal document. Include Overseas Passport(not China Passport), Hong Kong/ Macao Home-return Permit or I.D. Card, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate, valid documents for overseas Chinese, or a Chinese passport with a valid overseas employment visa valid for over one year.
The personal photo 5cm X 4cm (The fair may take photo when you register).
Name Card

Registration Time

Overseas Buyers’ Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex:

Phase I
Apr./Oct.14, 10:30-18:00
Apr./Oct. 15-18, 8:30-18:00
Apr. /Oct.19, 8:30-16:00

Phase II
Apr./Oct. 23-26, 8:30-18:00
Apr. /Oct.27, 8:30-16:00

Phase III
In Spring: May 1-4, 8:30-18:00，May 5, 8:30-14:00
In Autumn: Oct. 31-Nov.3, 8:30-18:00， Nov. 4, 8:30-14:00

Overseas Buyers’ Registration Office in appointed hotels:

Phase I
Apr. /Oct.14, 8:30-18:00
Apr. /Oct.15-17, 8:30-18:00
Phase II
Apr. /Oct.22-24, 8:30-18:00
Phase III
In Spring: Apr. 30-May 1, 8:30-18:00; May 2, 8:30-14:00
In Autumn: Oct. 30-31, 8:30-18:00; Nov.1, 8:30-14:00

What else I should do to prepare for the visit?

To prepare effectively for the Canton Fair, follow these steps:

Check the Fair Schedule: Choose the fair phase that aligns with your interests and industry.
Plan Your Trip: Arrange your visa, flights, and accommodation well in advance to avoid last-minute hassles.
Prepare Documents: Ensure you have essential documents such as your passport, ID, and visa if required.
Business Cards: Create bilingual business cards (English and Chinese) for effective networking.
Currency Exchange: Exchange currency to RMB (Chinese Yuan) and consider setting up a Revolut account for financial convenience.
VPN: Invest in a VPN to access blocked websites while in China.
Download Apps: Install WeChat for communication, translation apps for language support, and other helpful tools like Google Translator or Pleco.

Conclusion:

The Canton Fair is an extraordinary platform for businesses to explore new opportunities, source products, and build valuable relationships with Chinese suppliers. Despite some challenges, the fair’s immense scale and foreigner-friendly environment make it a worthwhile endeavor for those involved in international trade. To make the most of your visit, thorough preparation and planning are key. Look forward to seeing you in October and wish your a fruitful journey!