Canton Fair Sourcing Guide: Dates, Hall Distribution, and What to Watch When Placing Orders

A platform that brings Chinese factories together under one roof

The Canton Fair, formally the China Import and Export Fair, was founded in 1957 and is held twice a year in spring and autumn in Guangzhou. Its main venue is the Canton Fair Complex in Pazhou, Haizhu District (380 Yuejiang Middle Road), directly accessible by Metro Line 8 at Xingang East Station and Pazhou Station. It is not itself a production region; rather, it is a matchmaking venue that gathers factories from the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong and across the whole country: home appliances and electronics, hardware and building materials, home decor and gifts, textiles and apparel, food and pharmaceuticals, and more all have suppliers here. For overseas buyers and cross-border sellers, it suits sourcing needs such as “comparing prices all at once, viewing samples, negotiating terms face to face, and establishing long-term suppliers.”

Dates: two sessions each year, in three phases

Usually the spring session runs from mid-April to early May, and the autumn session from mid-October to early November. Each session is divided into three phases, each about 5 days, with intervals for booth changeover. Specific dates vary slightly each year; before traveling, be sure to check the official website as authoritative.

Phase	Typical exhibits	Suitable sourcing needs
Phase 1	Electronics and home appliances, lighting, vehicle parts, machinery, hardware, building materials, chemicals	Hardware, tools, engineering and industrial goods
Phase 2	Consumer goods, gifts, home decor, ceramics and tableware	Home, gifts, festivals, cross-border product selection
Phase 3	Textiles and apparel, shoes/hats/bags, office stationery, pharmaceuticals and health care, food, international pavilion	Apparel and textiles, daily fast-moving consumer goods, food

The division of exhibition sections in each phase may be slightly adjusted each year; refer to the on-site guide and official website as authoritative.

Hall distribution and a route for visiting

The complex is divided into areas A, B, C, D, etc., and exhibitors in the same category are usually concentrated in adjacent halls. It is advisable to first look at the official floor plan and exhibitor directory, number your target suppliers, and arrange a route by hall and floor to avoid crossing back and forth between halls. Cross-border sellers can pay attention to special zones for cross-border e-commerce and small-batch quick-response; many factories also accept small-batch trial orders.

How to enter, place orders, and make contact

• Badge: Overseas buyers generally need to pre-register on the official website and use a passport or other valid ID to get a buyer badge free of charge; early registration can also provide an invitation letter for visa purposes.
• Contact: Exchange business cards and product catalogs on site, and follow up after the fair by email, WhatsApp, or WeChat; exhibitor information can be found on the official website and official app.
• Ordering: On site, usually sign a proforma invoice (PI) or purchase order first, specifying specifications, quantity, unit price, delivery time, and trade terms (FOB/CIF, etc.), then pay a deposit as agreed; the percentage varies by category and supplier.

What to pay attention to when sourcing

• Verify the entity: Ask for a business license, export qualifications, and shipment records; be wary of temporary booths that only accept cash and are unwilling to leave company information.
• Clarify terms: Put MOQ, sampling fees, delivery time, inspection methods, warranty, and after-sales service into the contract; do not rely only on verbal promises.
• Certification compliance: Confirm CE, FCC, UL, RoHS, etc., according to destination-country requirements; for food, cosmetics, and medical devices, investigate market access even more thoroughly.
• Intellectual property: Confirm that trademarks and design patents are not infringed, and if necessary add liability clauses to the contract.
• Payment and exchange rates: Try to use corporate accounts, keep contracts, PIs, bank slips, and other evidence; pay attention to exchange-rate fluctuations and the allocation of risk under trade terms.
• Pace planning: It is recommended to view samples and compare prices on the first day, have in-depth talks on the second day, and decide on the third day; book accommodation and transportation in advance — the metro is usually more reliable than taking a taxi.

Follow-up after the fair is often more critical than the event itself: grade suppliers by price, capacity, and responsiveness, start with small trial orders, then gradually scale up.