Is the Canton Fair worth it for a small business?

Yes, if you know what you are looking for: it is the only place where you can meet hundreds of suppliers from one sector in a few days. It disappoints buyers who arrive without a list, without target prices and without planning any follow-up.

Do I need to speak Chinese at the Canton Fair?

Not to get around: signage is bilingual and most booths have an English-speaking salesperson. To negotiate seriously and understand who you are dealing with, an assistant who speaks Chinese makes a real difference.

How do I pay in China?

Almost everything is paid by phone. Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign bank cards: install them and link your card before you leave. The Guangzhou metro also accepts contactless payment with foreign cards.

How to prepare for the Canton Fair: complete guide

In short

Choose the phase that matches your products, register as a buyer, book flights and hotel six to eight weeks ahead, prepare a list of exhibitors and your target prices, and keep a few days after the fair to see the factories.

Is the Canton Fair worth the trip?

For a small business that imports or wants to, it often offers the best ratio between time spent and suppliers met. In three days you see real products, compare dozens of offers and judge the people in front of you.

Its limits are just as real. A large share of exhibitors are traders rather than manufacturers. Prices quoted on the booth are starting points. And nothing said in the halls replaces a visit to the factory that will actually make your products.

How many days to plan

One phase, list prepared: two to three days in the halls.
With factory visits: add one to three days.
In total: most of a week in China, plus flights.

Arrive the day before the first day: you collect your badge without the queues and you are rested for the first day, which is always the longest.

Budget: what to plan for

Flights to Guangzhou, often with a connection.
Accommodation: prices rise sharply during the fair, especially near the site. See where to stay.
Local transport: the metro is cheap; ride-hailing (the Didi app, available in English) is convenient for factories.
Assistance: €300 per day with Saigalé.
Samples and their shipping home.

Before you leave: the checklist

A passport valid for at least six months after your return, to be safe.
Your buyer registration confirmed and, if needed, your visa. See the visa guide.
Business cards, ideally with one side in Chinese.
A sheet describing the products you want: photos, dimensions, materials, quantities, target prices.
Alipay or WeChat Pay installed, with your bank card linked.
A working connection: Google, WhatsApp and most Western services are not accessible on Chinese networks. An eSIM or roaming plan from a foreign carrier usually lets you keep using them.
A power bank, comfortable shoes and room in your suitcase for catalogues.

On site: good habits

Photograph each interesting booth with the exhibitor's business card in the frame: in the evening, you will know who is who.
Log price, minimum quantity and lead time for each contact, in one single table.
Ask whether the exhibitor owns its factory, where it is, and whether you can visit.
Do not commit on the booth. The best terms come after the fair, in writing, with offers in competition.

After the fair

This is where the difference is made. Sort your contacts within a week, follow up in writing with the best ones, order samples, and visit the factories of the two or three suppliers still in the running. We handle this follow-up as part of our assistance.

How to prepare for the Canton Fair