Canton Fair support
Go to the Canton Fair prepared and come back with the right suppliers
Yeni İpekyolu supports Turkish buyers at the Canton Fair with registration, phase selection, hall planning, interpreters and supplier pre-screening, and then handles samples and factory visits after the fair.
How to plan a productive Canton Fair visit as a Turkish buyer
How the Canton Fair is structured: phases, halls and product groups
The Canton Fair, officially the China Import and Export Fair, is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, at the huge exhibition complex in Guangzhou's Pazhou district. Each session is split into several phases, and each phase shows different product groups, such as electronics and machinery, home goods and gifts, or textiles and fashion. So the first job is to pin down which phase and which hall your product is in. Going to the wrong phase means not seeing the stands you need at all, despite the flight and hotel costs. We confirm the phase calendar together from the current announcements before each session.
The fair grounds are too big to cover on foot in a few days. So before the visit, Yeni İpekyolu scans the exhibitor list against your product codes and builds a short target list with hall and stand numbers. From the first morning you follow a planned route instead of wandering. We leave free time in the route for both priority meetings and discovering new suppliers, because the value of the fair often appears at a stand that was not on the list.
Registration, buyer badge and preparing your arrival in Guangzhou
Foreign buyers typically register online in advance through the fair's official platform and collect the buyer badge at the registration points on site. Registration asks for passport details, company information and a photo; since details can change from session to session, we confirm the current procedure together. We help you complete the registration, the invitation document for your visa if needed, and the hotel choice. During fair periods, hotels around Pazhou fill quickly and prices rise; booking early and staying close to a metro line greatly reduces daily lost time.
Before arriving in China, you should have WeChat and Alipay installed on your phone; almost all suppliers share a WeChat QR code instead of a business card, and many payments around the fair are made by mobile. We recommend bringing plenty of Chinese–English business cards, your product list and a short note with your target price ranges. Our team also arranges airport pick-up, SIM card and payment setup, so you can focus on the fair from day one.
Asking the right questions at the stand and following up after the Canton Fair
A significant share of Canton Fair stands are trading companies rather than factories. That is not a bad thing, but when discussing price, minimum order quantity (MOQ) and lead time, you need to know who you are talking to. Our interpreter asks at the stand where production takes place, about export experience, certificates, payment terms (usually deposit and balance) and delivery terms such as FOB or EXW. Collecting samples and quotations at the fair, rather than placing firm orders, is often the smarter move.
The real outcome of the fair appears in the weeks after you return. Yeni İpekyolu turns the business cards and notes you collected into a single comparison table and sends follow-up messages to suppliers in Chinese. If you wish, we set up a programme right after the fair to visit factories in Foshan, Dongguan or Shenzhen on site, and move on to company checks and sample management for the firms you choose. That way the fair does not stay a trip; it becomes a concrete supply chain.
Who benefits most from our Canton Fair support?
Buyers going to the Canton Fair for the first time
We plan every step together, from registration and hotel to phase selection and the first stand. We turn your first visit from a trial run into a business trip with results.
Importers looking for a new product line
If you are looking for alternatives to current suppliers or a new category, the fair is the fastest way to see many manufacturers in a short time. We prepare the target list and the comparison.
Companies that cannot attend but want coverage
When you cannot travel, our team visits the stands you choose on your behalf and collects photos, catalogues and quotations. If needed, we connect you to the stand by video call.
What our Canton Fair package includes
Registration and phase planning
We help you complete buyer registration and identify the phase and dates that fit your product. We confirm the calendar against current official announcements.
Target stand list and route
We scan the exhibitor list and rank priority stands with hall numbers. We plan the daily route by walking distance.
Fair interpreter
Our interpreter, familiar with product and trade terminology, stays with you all day. They ask clearly about price, MOQ, delivery and payment terms and take notes.
Accommodation, pick-up and payment setup
We help with a hotel with easy access to the fair, airport pick-up, a SIM card and WeChat Pay or Alipay setup.
Post-fair evaluation and follow-up
We compare the suppliers you met in one table and handle follow-up correspondence in Chinese. We organise the move to samples, company checks and factory visits.
Service summary and requirements
| Venue | Guangzhou, Pazhou exhibition complex |
|---|---|
| Team | Our Guangzhou & Shenzhen team, coordinated from Istanbul |
| Pricing | Quoted by number of days and scope |
| Service languages | Turkish · Chinese · English |
| Cities served | Guangzhou · Shenzhen · Yiwu · Shanghai · Hangzhou · Beijing (coordinated from our Istanbul office) |
The final price and timeline depend on the scope; we send you a clear quote promptly.
What you need to provide
- A list of the products you are looking for, with photos or specifications
- Target price range and estimated order quantity
- Passport and company details (for registration and visa)
- Your travel dates and number of travellers
Your Canton Fair visit, step by step
- 1
Initial call and product briefing
We discuss the products you are looking for, target prices and order volume. Based on that, we suggest the phase, dates and how many days to stay.
- 2
Registration, visa and travel preparation
Buyer registration, visa documents if needed, hotel and pick-up are arranged. We send you a short checklist for phone and payment setup.
- 3
Target list and appointments
We contact selected exhibitors in advance via WeChat and set meeting times at the stand with those who are a good fit.
- 4
Fair days
You follow the planned route with your interpreter, hold meetings at stands and collect catalogues and sample details. Each evening we prepare a short summary of the day together.
- 5
Post-fair shortlisting and follow-up
With the shortlisted suppliers we move on to samples, price clarification and factory visits. If you wish, we continue all the way to production follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Canton Fair held?
The fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou, in spring and autumn, and each session is split into phases. We confirm exact dates and which product is in which phase from the current announcements before each session.
Which phase should I attend?
It depends entirely on your product group. Once we have your product list, we identify the relevant halls and phase; if you are looking for several categories, we can suggest a programme covering two phases.
Should I register as a buyer myself?
Registration is usually done online with personal details; we fill it in with you step by step and make sure nothing is missing. Since rules can change, we confirm the current procedure before you apply.
Will I be talking directly to factories at the fair?
Some stands are factories and some are trading companies. Our interpreter clarifies this at the stand, and for shortlisted firms we verify the real manufacturer through a company check and a factory visit.
Should I place orders at the fair?
In most cases it is healthier to collect samples and quotations at the fair and place the order after sample approval and supplier verification. We help you clarify payment and delivery terms.
How many days should I stay?
For one product group, two to three fair days are usually enough. If you plan factory visits afterwards, we suggest adding a few more days for the production areas around Guangzhou.
What can you do if I cannot attend?
Our team visits the stands you choose on your behalf and collects photos, catalogues and quotations. At important stands we can connect you to the meeting by video.
Tell us what you need in China
Our consultant reviews your needs for free and gives you a clear price and timeline.
