Trade fairs in China
The Canton Fair and Yiwu are not the same thing. Confusing them is costly.
If you have never been to China to buy, it's easy to treat "doing business in China" as one thing. In practice, they are two environments with different logics.
Last updated: September 29, 2026
Canton Fair
China's largest foreign trade fair
Officially the China Import and Export Fair, the Canton Fair has been held twice a year in Guangzhou since 1957, making it one of the oldest and most established trade fairs in the world. It is the meeting point between thousands of Chinese factories and exporters and buyers from virtually every country. For anyone in foreign trade, it is the event that sets the year's calendar.
Most of the frustration of traveling without local support comes from applying the wrong logic in the wrong place. That is why it pays to understand each environment before building your agenda.
Why this fair matters so much
- Scale: the Pazhou complex, where it takes place, has more than one million square meters of exhibition space.
- Track record: decades of editions have built the trust of international buyers. It is a more predictable and regulated environment than dealing directly with unknown suppliers.
- Breadth: it covers virtually every product category, organized in phases, so you can focus on the segment that matters to you.
- Concentrated networking: in a few days, a buyer can visit dozens of suppliers that would take weeks of travel to meet one by one across the country.
Calendar
The 3 phases of the Canton Fair
The fair has two editions a year (spring and autumn), each divided into 3 phases by product category.
| Phase | Dates | Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15–19 | Advanced manufacturing: electronics, home appliances, machinery, hardware, vehicles, energy |
| Phase 2 | October 23–27 | Home and décor: consumer goods, gifts, furniture, ceramics, gardening, building materials |
| Phase 3 | October 31 – November 4 | Lifestyle: textiles and apparel, shoes, bags, office supplies, medical products, food, toys |
| Phase | Expected dates | Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | April 15–19, 2027 | Advanced manufacturing |
| Phase 2 | April 23–27, 2027 | Home and décor |
| Phase 3 | May 1–5, 2027 | Lifestyle |
The 2027 dates follow the pattern of previous editions but have not yet been officially confirmed. Check the official calendar before booking flights.
Location: China Import and Export Fair Complex (Pazhou), No. 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, southern China.
First trip
The myth that holds buyers back: "only full containers"
One of the most common blocks among small and medium-sized business owners is believing the Canton Fair is only for those buying full containers (FCL). That is not true, and this belief alone keeps away many buyers who could close viable deals.
In practice
- Most booths are open to negotiating a MOQ (minimum order quantity) well below a full container, especially for buyers who build a relationship with the supplier over more than one edition.
- It is common to consolidate orders from several suppliers in the same container through a freight forwarder, which reduces the minimum volume per supplier.
- What really changes the supplier's price and priority is not only the volume of the first order: it is the perceived credibility of the buyer. A registered company, an import history and someone who knows how to negotiate in the Chinese environment.
That last point, credibility and negotiation support, is exactly where a local partner makes the difference between a trip that produces quotes and one that produces contracts.
Yiwu
The counterpoint to the Canton Fair
If the Canton Fair is an event concentrated on specific dates, the Yiwu International Trade City, in Zhejiang Province, is the opposite: it operates all year round, including weekends, as a permanent wholesale market considered the largest in the world for variety of small goods, from party supplies to electronics, décor, toys and household items.
| Canton Fair | Yiwu | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Fair with fixed dates, twice a year | Permanent market, open all year |
| Supplier profile | Factories and large exporters | Distributors, wholesalers and small manufacturers |
| Typical category | All industries, by phase | Small goods, gifts, décor, household items, popular fashion |
| Typical MOQ | Medium to high (negotiable) | Very low, ideal for a varied assortment |
| Best for | Securing a strategic, recurring supplier | Testing new products and buying a wide assortment |
Best time to visit Yiwu
- Best windows: March to June and September to December, periods with more commercial activity and regional fairs in the city.
- Avoid Chinese New Year: in 2027 it falls on February 6, and many shops close or run partially in the weeks around it.
- Seasonal products (such as Christmas items): ideally visit before July. From September on, many factories have already committed the year's capacity.
Logistics
Where to stay in each scenario
More than the hotel's name, what makes a trip productive is getting around efficiently.
In Guangzhou (Canton Fair)
- Choose accommodation near Metro Line 8 or Pazhou station, with direct access to the fair complex without depending on traffic.
- Consider Zhujiang New Town, more central, if you will combine the fair with meetings outside the event.
- Prefer hotels that can handle extra luggage and samples: buyers often leave the fair with reference material from suppliers.
In Yiwu
- The area near the Futian Market, where the main product districts are, concentrates most of the hotels aimed at foreign buyers.
- Since the market is divided into districts by category, plan your stay based on which districts you will prioritize.
Negotiation
What makes buyers succeed in these environments
After supporting clients in both scenarios, BrazTrip has identified a pattern: what separates a productive trip from a frustrating one is rarely the product. It is negotiation support.
Technical translation, not just language. Commercial terms, payment conditions and production lead times require more than translating sentences.
Reading supplier behavior. Knowing when a polite answer is a disguised "no" requires cultural familiarity.
Logistics between appointments. A poorly planned fair agenda wastes half the useful time in transit.
Continuity after the trip. Samples, order adjustments and quality control are where many promising negotiations get lost.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Canton Fair and Yiwu
When is the next Canton Fair?
The 140th session (autumn 2026) takes place in Guangzhou in three phases: October 15–19, October 23–27 and October 31 – November 4, 2026. The spring 2027 session is expected from April 15 to May 5, 2027, not yet officially confirmed.
Do I need to buy a full container at the Canton Fair?
No. Many suppliers negotiate lower minimum quantities, and orders from several suppliers can be consolidated in the same container through a freight forwarder.
How do I register as a buyer at the Canton Fair?
Foreign buyers pre-register online on the fair's official website and collect the buyer badge with their passport. BrazTrip guides this process as part of trip preparation.
Is the Yiwu market open all year?
Yes, including weekends. The exception is the Chinese New Year period, when many shops close or run partially.
Do Brazilians need a visa for the Canton Fair?
Brazilians with ordinary passports are visa-exempt for business stays of up to 30 days, until December 31, 2026. See our visa-free page for details.
One Stop Solution
End-to-end support for buying in China
It is this complete support, not just trip organization, that BrazTrip offers as a one-stop solution for those going to China to do business: agenda, registration, accommodation, transfers, technical translation and follow-up after the fair.
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