Planning your route · 9 min read
Canton Fair 2027: dates, registration, visa and practical tips
In short: the Canton Fair (广交会) is China's biggest trade fair. It's held twice a year, in spring and autumn, in three 5-day phases. In spring 2027 it should run from 15 April to 5 May (phases: 15–19 April, 23–27 April, 1–5 May), although the organiser hasn't confirmed the dates yet. Entry is free if you pre-register online as a buyer. Many nationalities can attend visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026; for spring 2027 it depends on China's decision.
Importers, online shop owners and wholesalers from all over the world come to the Canton Fair: at one show you'll meet thousands of Chinese manufacturers. Below we explain how to prepare – from registration to your hotel and supplier meetings.
Correct as of 22 October 2026. The spring 2027 dates are a forecast based on previous years – check them on the official fair website before booking your trip.
What is the Canton Fair?
The China Import and Export Fair (中国进出口商品交易会, 广交会 for short, known in English as the Canton Fair) has been held in Guangzhou since 1957. It's a business-to-business fair: exhibitors are Chinese manufacturers and exporters, and visitors are professional buyers looking for suppliers and placing wholesale orders. You usually can't buy single items at the stands.
The scale is huge. In autumn 2026 (the 140th fair) more than 32,000 companies are exhibiting, and over 220,000 overseas buyers from 197 countries and regions pre-registered before it opened. The spring 2026 fair drew 314,000 overseas buyers.
The fair takes place in a vast exhibition complex in the Pazhou district (琶洲) on the Pearl River, about 30 minutes by metro from central Guangzhou.
Canton Fair dates 2026 and 2027
| Phase | 140th fair, autumn 2026 | 141st fair, spring 2027 (forecast) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 15–19 October | 15–19 April |
| Phase 2 | 23–27 October | 23–27 April |
| Phase 3 | 31 October – 4 November | 1–5 May |
There's a 3-day break between phases while the stands are rebuilt. Each phase covers different industries, so one phase is usually enough.
What's in each phase
| Phase | Theme | Main industries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | advanced manufacturing | electronics and home appliances, lighting, machinery, tools and hardware, electric vehicles and parts, industrial automation, renewable energy, robots |
| 2 | quality home living | furniture and building materials, housewares and kitchenware, ceramics, gifts and decorations |
| 3 | better life | fashion: clothing, shoes, bags and textiles; toys and baby products; health, sport and recreation |
The exact hall plan and list of sectors appear on the official fair website about a month before it opens.
Registration and the buyer badge
You enter the fair with a buyer badge. If you pre-register online, it's free.
- Create an account in the buyer system (buyer.cantonfair.org.cn) or in the official Canton Fair app. Registration is open all year – ideally do it 2–3 months before the fair.
- Choose registration with a foreign passport and enter your personal details, passport number, photo and company details. Verify your email address.
- Apply for the badge and tick the phases you'll attend. If you need a visa, tick the option to generate an invitation letter at the same time.
- Collect the badge in Guangzhou with your passport: at Baiyun airport, Guangzhou South railway station, the Pazhou ferry pier, selected hotels or the registration offices at the complex. Queues are longest on the first day of each phase.
NoteYou can still get in without pre-registering, but you'll queue to register on site and usually pay about ¥200 (about 118 PLN) for the badge. Your name and passport number must match across your registration, invitation letter and visa application.
Do you need a visa for the Canton Fair?
In autumn 2026 many nationalities don't: China's 30-day visa-free entry for citizens of most European countries also covers business trips and trade fairs, currently until 31 December 2026. Whether it will cover the spring 2027 fair is expected to be announced in the autumn – we keep our article on China visa-free entry up to date.
If visa-free entry isn't extended, or doesn't apply to your passport, you'll need a business (M) visa – you apply with the invitation letter from the fair's system. Guangzhou is also one of the cities where you can enter under the 240-hour visa-free transit if you're flying on to another country.
How to get to the Canton Fair
Flights. China Southern flies non-stop from Budapest to Guangzhou; from most other European cities you'll connect, e.g. in Beijing or Shanghai. Fares go up around the fair, so book early: flights to China – flight time and prices.
From the airport to the fair. The cheapest way is the metro: Line 3 to Kecun (客村), then change to Line 8 for Xingangdong (新港东, Zone A) or Pazhou (琶洲, Zones B and C). The ride takes about 45 minutes and costs about ¥8 (about 5 PLN). A taxi takes about an hour and costs about ¥150 (about 88 PLN) to ¥200 (about 118 PLN). There's also a suburban train from the airport to Pazhou station.
From Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Many buyers combine the fair with Hong Kong: the high-speed train from West Kowloon station to Guangzhou takes about an hour, and from Shenzhen it's even quicker: Guangzhou – Shenzhen train.
Where to stay during the fair
- Pazhou – hotels a few minutes' walk from the halls. It's the most convenient option, but rooms sell out weeks before the fair and prices are noticeably higher than usual.
- Zhujiang New Town (珠江新城) – a modern business district with good restaurants, about 15–20 minutes by metro from the fair.
- Hotels along metro Line 8 – usually cheaper, with an easy ride and no changes.
TipMany hotels in and around Pazhou run a free shuttle bus to the halls during the fair. Check the listing and book with free cancellation. More on bookings: hotels, trains and flights.
In April Guangzhou averages about 26°C by day and 20°C at night, and in October about 29°C and 21°C, with high humidity. The halls are air-conditioned, so a light jacket or jumper comes in handy.
Practical tips for buyers
- Get your phone ready. You'll pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay, and you'll swap WeChat QR codes with suppliers instead of business cards: how to pay in China and internet in China.
- Bring business cards in English and photograph every stand you're interested in, together with its card and catalogue – after three days everything blurs together.
- Ask for specifics: minimum order quantity (MOQ), price (e.g. FOB or EXW), lead time, sample costs and certificates (many products sold in the EU need the CE mark).
- Find out whether you're talking to a manufacturer or a trading company. A trading company can be easier for small orders, but a manufacturer usually offers a better price.
- Order samples first, and before paying a large deposit, check the supplier, e.g. through an independent inspection company.
- Work out your import costs. On top of the goods you'll pay shipping, customs duty (depending on the product code) and import VAT in your country. A customs broker or freight forwarder will help with the paperwork.
In our experience Chinese cities feel very safe – even in the evening, on a crowded metro, with a laptop and samples in your bag.
Wholesale markets in Guangzhou beyond the fair
Guangzhou is also full of wholesale markets open all year round. The best known:
| Market | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| 十三行 (Shisanhang) | clothing |
| 白马服装市场 (Baima), by Guangzhou railway station | clothing, especially womenswear |
| 一德路 (Yide Road) | toys, decorations, seasonal goods |
| 中大布匹市场 (Zhongda) | fabrics and tailoring supplies |
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver – DiDi and Amap will find it easily.
Guangzhou after hours
After the fair, see the Canton Tower, walk around the colonial Shamian Island (沙面) and take an evening boat along the Pearl River. Guangzhou is also the capital of dim sum – people queue for breakfast at its teahouses. What to see, where to eat and where to stay: see our Guangzhou guide. Our Dim Sum & Palm Trees plan links Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau.
FAQ
When is the Canton Fair 2027?
The spring fair (141st) should run from 15 April to 5 May 2027, in three phases: 15–19 April, 23–27 April and 1–5 May. The organiser usually confirms the dates a few months in advance.
Is entry to the Canton Fair free?
Yes, if you pre-register online as a buyer – the badge is then free. If you register on site, you usually pay about ¥200.
Can private individuals visit the Canton Fair?
The fair is for businesses: you enter company details when registering, and exhibitors sell wholesale. It isn't a consumer fair.
Do I need a visa for the Canton Fair?
Citizens of most European countries can enter China visa-free for 30 days until 31 December 2026, including for business. For spring 2027 it depends on China's decision – if needed, apply for a business (M) visa with the invitation letter from the fair's system.
How long does the Canton Fair last?
Three weeks: three 5-day phases with 3-day breaks. Each phase covers different industries.
How do I get from the airport to the Canton Fair?
By metro: Line 3 to Kecun, then Line 8 to Xingangdong or Pazhou – about 45 minutes and about ¥8. By taxi about an hour and about ¥150–200.
Sources
- Canton Fair: official website
- Canton Fair: buyer registration system
- China's Ministry of Commerce: the 140th Canton Fair (autumn 2026 dates)
- PR Newswire Asia: the 140th Canton Fair with over 220,000 pre-registered buyers
- Guangzhou Municipal Government: the 137th Canton Fair (the three phases and their themes)
- Trip.com: how to register for the Canton Fair
- Wander in China: getting to the Canton Fair
Going to the fair? See Guangzhou and around too
Stay a few days longer after the fair: our Dim Sum & Palm Trees plan takes you through Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau day by day, with prices and addresses in Chinese. Need a route built around your fair dates? We'll prepare a custom plan.
