Canton Fair in Guangzhou

The Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, is the largest and one of the most internationally influential trade fairs in China. Held in Guangzhou twice a year, it brings together thousands of Chinese manufacturers, exporters, international buyers and industry professionals from around the world.

For overseas visitors, the Canton Fair is much more than several days of product exhibitions. The enormous Canton Fair Complex, its four exhibition areas, nearby hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, business-dining venues and convenient transportation network form a complete business-travel hub in Guangzhou.

If you are visiting Guangzhou for sourcing, supplier meetings, product exhibitions or business negotiations, this guide covers the practical information you need, including Canton Fair dates, exhibition phases, product categories, exhibition hall locations, buyer registration, transportation, food inside the exhibition centre, restaurants, hotels connected to the venue, accommodation around Pazhou and dining options for business guests.

1. Canton Fair Overview

The China Import and Export Fair, commonly called the Canton Fair, was founded in spring 1957 under the original name China Export Commodities Fair. It was renamed the China Import and Export Fair in 2007, beginning with the 101st session, when dedicated import exhibition areas were introduced.

The fair is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, and organized by the China Foreign Trade Centre.

Today, the Canton Fair is held twice a year. The Spring Canton Fair normally takes place from April to May, while the Autumn Canton Fair takes place from October to November. Each session is divided into three phases according to product categories, with exhibition-change periods between the phases.

The main venue is the Canton Fair Complex (中国进出口商品交易会展馆) at No. 380–382 Yuejiang Middle Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou. The complex consists of Areas A, B, C and D, together with the Canton Fair Complex Conference Centre.

The offline exhibition covers approximately 1.55 million square metres, with around 32,000 participating companies across approximately 55 exhibition sections. The online Canton Fair platform remains available throughout the year, allowing buyers to continue communicating with Chinese suppliers after the physical exhibition closes.

The regular business and negotiation hours are generally 09:30–18:00 each day.

The official Canton Fair website is Canton Fair Official Website.

2. 2026 Canton Fair Dates

139th Canton Fair – Spring Session 2026

140th Canton Fair – Autumn Session 2026

The exhibition-change periods are not visitor days. The exhibition halls are closed while exhibitors remove existing displays and prepare the halls for the next phase.

When arranging flights, hotels and business appointments, always match your itinerary with the correct exhibition phase.

3. Canton Fair Exhibition Phases and Product Categories

Phase 1: Advanced Manufacturing, Electronics and Machinery

The first phase focuses on advanced manufacturing, electronics and machinery. Major product categories include household appliances, consumer electronics, industrial automation, mechanical equipment, engineering machinery, agricultural machinery, new energy vehicles, hardware, lighting products and chemical materials.

This phase also includes an import exhibition and is particularly important for international buyers sourcing machinery, electronics, industrial equipment, appliances and new-energy products.

Phase 2: Home Products, Gifts and Household Goods

The second phase focuses on home products, gifts and daily-use goods.

Exhibits include ceramics, kitchenware, tableware, household products, handicrafts, gifts, furniture, garden products, building materials, bathroom products, watches and eyewear.

This phase is particularly useful for homeware distributors, furniture buyers, hotel suppliers, gift companies and lifestyle brands.

Phase 3: Consumer Products, Fashion, Food and Healthcare

The third phase covers a wide range of consumer products and lifestyle goods, including toys and baby products, clothing, footwear, bags, home textiles, stationery, medical equipment, food, sports and leisure products, personal care products and pet supplies.

Products related to rural revitalization and specialty consumer goods are also represented, together with an import exhibition.

4. Canton Fair Complex: Areas A, B, C and D

The Canton Fair Complex is extremely large, so understanding the exhibition areas before arriving is important.

The walking distances between areas can be surprisingly long. As a rough guide, Area A to D takes around 5–8 minutes, Area A to B around 10–15 minutes, Area B to C around 8–12 minutes, while Area A to C may take around 20–25 minutes.

If you have several supplier appointments in one day, grouping meetings by exhibition area can save a considerable amount of time.

5. Canton Fair Buyer Registration and Entry

Overseas Buyer Registration

International buyers should complete Canton Fair buyer pre-registration online before arriving in Guangzhou whenever possible. The first buyer credential is generally available free of charge through the official registration process.

After completing registration, keep your confirmation information and bring the required documents to Guangzhou.

Off-site registration and credential collection services may be available at locations such as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场), Guangzhou South Railway Station, the Pazhou Hong Kong and Macao Passenger Terminal and selected Canton Fair partner hotels.

Registration can also be completed at the exhibition complex, but queues may be considerably longer during peak periods.

International buyers should normally prepare their original passport, business card and online pre-registration confirmation. Buyer credentials generally need to be handled personally and cannot be collected by another person on the buyer’s behalf.

Domestic Buyers

Domestic buyers should complete the required registration through the official Canton Fair system. The fair is not a general public exhibition, so casual visitors cannot simply walk into the exhibition halls without the appropriate credentials.

Exhibitors

Exhibitor credentials are generally arranged through the relevant trade delegation and official exhibitor registration procedures.

6. How to Get to the Canton Fair

Guangzhou Metro

For most visitors, Guangzhou Metro is the most reliable way to reach the Canton Fair, especially during the morning and afternoon traffic peaks.

For Areas A and D, use Metro Line 8 and get off at Xingang East Station (新港东站), then follow the signs toward the appropriate entrance.

For Area B, use Pazhou Station (琶洲站) and Exits A or B. Passengers arriving via Metro Line 11 can use the covered pedestrian connection toward the exhibition complex.

For Area C, use Pazhou Station and Exit C, then walk approximately 300 metres toward the exhibition area.

During the Canton Fair, metro services are normally strengthened to handle the large number of exhibitors and visitors, and peak intervals can be reduced to approximately 2–3 minutes.

Canton Fair Airport Shuttle

A dedicated Canton Fair airport shuttle bus may operate between Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the exhibition complex on designated exhibition days.

Airport-to-exhibition services generally operate during the daytime, while return services run during the afternoon and early evening. Service frequency may be adjusted according to passenger demand.

The airport shuttle is convenient for international buyers with luggage, but it is not always available on exhibition-change days and may not be suitable for flights arriving very early in the morning.

Taxi and Ride-Hailing

Taxi and ride-hailing services are convenient, particularly for visitors carrying samples, documents or luggage. However, temporary traffic controls are common around Pazhou during the Canton Fair.

Vehicles may not be allowed to stop randomly on major roads such as Yuejiang Middle Road and Xingang East Road.

When using a ride-hailing application, select an official pick-up or drop-off point such as Exhibition Middle Road, Exhibition West Road, Exhibition South Road or the north plaza of the Canton Fair Complex.

During the afternoon departure period, certain areas may impose temporary restrictions on ride-hailing vehicles.

Public Bus

Regular Guangzhou bus routes serving the Pazhou area include 229, 262, 582 and B7 Express. Special return services may also operate during major exhibition periods.

Buses are generally less convenient than the metro for overseas visitors carrying luggage because they may involve additional walking or transfers.

Water Transportation

The Pazhou Hong Kong and Macao Passenger Terminal (琶洲港澳客运口岸) provides direct water transportation between Hong Kong and Pazhou.

The terminal is only a short walk from the Canton Fair Complex and can be particularly convenient for visitors combining a Hong Kong trip with the Canton Fair.

Self-Driving

Self-driving is possible, but it is not usually the most convenient option during the exhibition.

Only authorized vehicles with the appropriate Canton Fair access credentials can enter certain internal areas. Other vehicles need to use surrounding parking facilities, where spaces can become limited during peak exhibition days.

7. Food, Restaurants and Rest Facilities Inside the Canton Fair Complex

The Canton Fair Complex has a wide range of dining facilities distributed across Areas A, B, C and D. Visitors can find quick meals, Chinese food, Western-style food, cafés, snacks and drinks without leaving the exhibition grounds.

Chinese Food Inside the Exhibition Halls

Typical Chinese options include clay-pot rice, noodles, rice dishes, boxed meals and business set meals. Designated halal food services are also available for visitors who require them.

These restaurants are designed primarily for convenience, so they are suitable when you have a tight meeting schedule rather than when you want a long business lunch.

Western Food and Coffee

Visitors can also find hamburgers, pizza, sandwiches, light meals and coffee. Internationally familiar coffee brands and local coffee chains may operate during exhibition periods.

Payment options vary by outlet, but many modern food and beverage businesses in Guangzhou support mobile payments and selected international bank cards.

Cantonese Food and Canton Fair Food Events

During major exhibition periods, special food areas may introduce visitors to Cantonese cuisine, Cantonese dim sum and traditional Guangzhou snacks.

This can be a convenient way for overseas buyers to experience local food without leaving the exhibition complex.

Main Dining Locations

In Area A, food outlets can be found around the 3.2 and 5.2 balcony areas as well as near the north and south entrances.

Area B has a particularly large concentration of dining facilities, including food areas around the 9.3 and 10.3 balcony zones.

Area C has dining facilities around the second-floor balcony areas of Halls 14–16.

Area D and the Canton Fair Complex Conference Centre also provide cafés and light-meal facilities.

Convenience stores are distributed throughout the complex and are useful for bottled water, snacks, bread and basic daily necessities.

Best Time to Eat

The busiest lunch period is generally 12:00–13:10. Queues can become very long during the middle of the day, especially on the opening days of each phase.

If your schedule is tight, have lunch before 11:00 or after 13:00 whenever possible.

Rest Areas and Business Facilities

The exhibition complex has many free public seating areas, including riverside walking areas and second-floor balcony spaces.

VIP buyers can also access dedicated business lounges and negotiation areas where available. Meeting rooms and selected VIP facilities can be rented for private business discussions.

Other services available within the complex include multilingual information desks, medical stations, luggage storage, currency exchange, ATMs and intellectual-property complaint services.

8. Hotels Directly Connected to the Canton Fair Complex

One important point for first-time visitors is that the exhibition halls themselves do not contain hotel rooms. You cannot stay overnight inside the exhibition centre.

However, two hotels are located within the wider exhibition complex and are connected to the exhibition venue by elevated pedestrian walkways. During the exhibition period, these connections provide exceptionally convenient access without requiring guests to walk along the main roads outside.

The Westin Pazhou

The Westin Pazhou (广州广交会威斯汀酒店) is located near Area C at No. 681 Fengpu Middle Road.

The hotel is connected to the exhibition complex by an elevated pedestrian walkway, making it particularly convenient for exhibitors and international buyers attending the Canton Fair.

The hotel offers an upscale five-star environment with approximately 325 guest rooms, together with Chinese dining, Japanese cuisine, all-day dining, a swimming pool and fitness facilities.

Its restaurants include Mai Chinese Restaurant, which focuses on Chinese and Cantonese-style cuisine, Seasonal Tastes, an all-day dining restaurant, and Japanese dining options.

The hotel is especially suitable for overseas buyers, senior executives and companies hosting important business guests who want to minimize daily travel between their hotel and exhibition meetings.

Courtyard by Marriott Guangzhou Pazhou

Courtyard by Marriott Guangzhou Pazhou (广州广交会万怡酒店) is located at No. 671 Fengpu Middle Road and provides direct pedestrian access to Area C through the connected walkway.

The hotel offers modern business-oriented rooms, a restaurant, lobby lounge, fitness facilities and a swimming pool.

Its dining facilities include The Pavilion, offering international-style meals, together with the lobby bar, which provides a more relaxed setting for informal business conversations.

Both hotels are in high demand during the Canton Fair. Because room availability can become extremely limited, international buyers should ideally arrange accommodation two to three months in advance, particularly if traveling during the first days of an exhibition phase.

9. Hotels Around the Canton Fair

Visitors do not necessarily need to stay directly beside the exhibition centre. Guangzhou's metro network makes it practical to stay in several nearby districts while commuting to Pazhou each day.

During the Canton Fair, accommodation prices in and around Pazhou can rise significantly. Booking early is therefore strongly recommended.

Staying in Pazhou and Modiesha

For buyers who need to attend the Canton Fair every day, Pazhou and Modiesha offer the greatest convenience.

Hotels in this area minimize commuting time, and many restaurants, cafés and shopping facilities are within walking distance.

Staying in Chigang and Kecun

Chigang and Kecun provide a good balance between price and convenience.

Metro Line 8 connects the area directly with Pazhou, while the neighbourhoods have numerous restaurants, cafés, supermarkets and shopping centres.

Staying in Wanshengwei

Wanshengwei is a practical option for visitors staying for a longer period or traveling as a small business team.

Accommodation is generally more affordable than in the immediate exhibition area, while the metro provides an easy connection to Pazhou.

Staying in Zhujiang New Town

For senior executives and overseas companies that need both Canton Fair access and meetings elsewhere in Guangzhou, Zhujiang New Town (珠江新城) is one of the city's strongest business districts.

The area has international five-star hotels, premium shopping malls, modern offices, international restaurants and a strong selection of venues suitable for client entertainment.

Staying in Yuexiu and Huanshi East Road

Visitors who require halal food may consider Yuexiu and the Huanshi East Road area.

This part of central Guangzhou has a broader selection of halal restaurants and international dining options, while the metro network provides convenient access toward Pazhou.

10. Restaurants and Food Around the Canton Fair

The neighbourhood around Pazhou has developed rapidly alongside the exhibition centre. Visitors can choose from shopping-centre restaurants, traditional Cantonese eateries, casual local restaurants, cafés, international cuisine and waterfront dining.

Poly World Trade Centre and Nanfenghui

The Poly World Trade Centre (保利世贸) and Nanfenghui (南丰汇) areas are among the most convenient places to eat near Pazhou Station.

Restaurants include Cantonese cuisine, Chinese hot pot, Japanese food, Southeast Asian cuisine, cafés and bars.

These areas are particularly suitable for business dinners after the Canton Fair, because they are close to the exhibition centre and offer a wide choice of restaurants at different price levels.

Restaurants Around Modiesha and Xingang East Road

The streets around Modiesha and Xingang East Road have many casual local restaurants.

Visitors can try Cantonese roast meats, clay-pot rice, rice noodle dishes, wonton noodles and other everyday Guangzhou food.

These restaurants are generally more affordable than hotel restaurants and are a good choice for visitors who want to experience local Guangzhou dining.

Pazhou Beer Culture and Creative Area

The Pazhou Beer Culture and Creative Area (琶醍啤酒文化创意区) sits along the Pearl River and offers waterfront restaurants, Western food, cafés and bars.

It is particularly suitable for evening gatherings, informal business conversations and dinners with clients who want a more relaxed atmosphere after the exhibition.

Canton Tower Area

The Canton Tower (广州塔) area is only a short metro journey from Pazhou and has a wider selection of premium restaurants and restaurants with city views.

For important clients, executive dinners or a special evening after a day at the Canton Fair, the Canton Tower area offers a more upscale dining environment.

Halal Restaurants

Pazhou itself has a relatively limited selection of halal restaurants.

Visitors requiring halal food can consider the Xiaobei and Huanshi East Road areas in Yuexiu District, where the choice of halal restaurants is generally greater and can be reached by metro.

11. Business Dining and Client Entertainment in Guangzhou

For overseas buyers, a Canton Fair business trip often involves more than supplier meetings. Dinner is frequently an important part of relationship building and business communication.

For a convenient business dinner close to the exhibition centre, restaurants around Poly World Trade Centre, Nanfenghui and Pazhou are practical choices.

For a more relaxed evening with clients, the Pazhou waterfront and Pearl River area offer restaurants and bars with outdoor or riverside settings.

For high-level client entertainment, Zhujiang New Town and the Canton Tower area provide a broader selection of premium Chinese restaurants, international restaurants and restaurants with panoramic city views.

If your clients require halal food, it is better to plan the restaurant in advance rather than searching spontaneously around the exhibition centre.

12. Practical Canton Fair Tips for Overseas Buyers

Avoid the Morning Traffic Peak

The main arrival period is generally 08:30–10:00, particularly on the opening day of each phase.

Road traffic around Pazhou can become extremely congested, so the metro is usually the safest choice when you have an important morning appointment.

Expect Heavy Traffic After Closing

The main departure period is generally 16:30–18:00.

Taxi and ride-hailing demand can rise sharply at this time, and temporary traffic restrictions may affect pick-up points. If possible, use the metro or walk to a designated pick-up location before ordering a car.

Confirm Your Exhibition Area Before Leaving

The exhibition complex is enormous. Always check whether your supplier or meeting is in Area A, B, C or D before setting off.

Going to the wrong entrance can add significant walking time and may cause you to miss a scheduled meeting.

Do Not Schedule Visits During Exhibition-Change Days

The exhibition-change periods between the three phases are closed to buyers.

Do not schedule supplier meetings or exhibition visits during these dates unless you have separately confirmed another meeting arrangement with the company.

Keep Your Buyer Credential Safe

Your buyer credential is an important document for accessing the exhibition. Depending on the applicable registration rules, it may remain useful for subsequent sessions.

Keep it safely throughout your business trip because replacing a lost credential may require additional procedures and fees.

Follow Local Traffic Instructions

Temporary traffic controls are common during the Canton Fair. Navigation applications may therefore show routes that are different from normal city traffic patterns.

Follow the instructions of traffic officers, security staff and Canton Fair personnel when entering or leaving the exhibition area.

Prepare Different Payment Methods

Guangzhou is highly accustomed to international visitors, and many hotels, shopping centres and restaurants accept international bank cards or mobile payments.

Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely used in the city, while acceptance of foreign cards can vary among smaller businesses. Carrying a small amount of Chinese yuan as a backup remains useful.

Plan Meals Around Your Meetings

Avoid scheduling important meetings immediately after the noon lunch rush if possible.

The 12:00–13:10 period is usually the busiest time for food outlets inside the exhibition complex. Eating earlier or later can save valuable time during a busy business day.

13. Combining the Canton Fair with a Guangzhou City Tour

A visit to the Canton Fair can easily be combined with sightseeing in Guangzhou, especially for international buyers staying several days.

After exhibition hours, visitors can explore the Canton Tower, enjoy a Pearl River evening cruise, visit historic Guangzhou neighbourhoods, experience traditional Cantonese cuisine or explore the city's shopping and entertainment districts.

For buyers staying beyond the exhibition dates, Guangzhou can also serve as a gateway to other destinations in China. Private transfers, hotel arrangements, local guides and customized China itineraries can be combined with the Canton Fair schedule to create a more efficient business and leisure trip.

For international visitors, planning the Canton Fair, accommodation, airport transfers, supplier meetings, business dinners and Guangzhou sightseeing as one itinerary can make a busy trade-fair trip much more comfortable and efficient.

14. Canton Fair Travel Services with Yaso Trip

Yaso Trip provides customized travel assistance for international visitors coming to Guangzhou for the Canton Fair.

Services can be arranged around your exhibition schedule, including airport pickup, hotel booking assistance, Canton Fair transportation, local private guides, business travel support, restaurant recommendations, client dining arrangements and customized Guangzhou tours.

If you plan to visit multiple Chinese cities before or after the Canton Fair, the business trip can also be combined with a private China itinerary covering destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guilin, Yunnan and other major tourist destinations.

The goal is to keep your exhibition schedule efficient while giving you enough time to experience Guangzhou, meet Chinese suppliers and enjoy the city beyond the exhibition halls.