Canton Fair Guide 2026: What It Is, How to Get There, Where to Stay and How Many Days You Need

The Canton Fair is the biggest trade show in China, and one of the best places in the world to meet factories face to face. If you’re thinking about importing products into New Zealand, it can save you months of back-and-forth on Alibaba.

I went to the 139th Canton Fair in April 2026 and I’m going back for the 140th this October. This guide covers everything I wish someone had told me before my first trip: what the fair is, which phase to go to, how to get there from New Zealand, where to stay, how many days you really need, and how to get the most out of every hour on the floor.

The Canton Fair at a glance

What is the Canton Fair?

The Canton Fair’s official name is the China Import and Export Fair. It has run every spring and autumn since 1957, which makes it China’s longest-running trade fair. It’s co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Guangdong provincial government, and organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre (overview).

It’s huge. China’s Ministry of Commerce lists the 140th session at around 1.55 million square metres of exhibition space with more than 30,000 exhibitors (MOFCOM). You won’t see it all, and you don’t need to. The trick is choosing the right phase and planning which halls to walk.

Most exhibitors are manufacturers or trading companies selling to overseas buyers. That means you can see and touch products, compare suppliers side by side, talk prices and minimum order quantities (MOQ) in person, and collect samples, all in the same week.

140th Canton Fair dates and phases (autumn 2026)

The fair runs in three phases, each with different product categories. Each phase lasts five days, with three days off between phases while the halls are changed over (MOFCOM).

The halls are closed from 20 to 22 October and 28 to 30 October.

Which phase should you go to?

• Trades, builders, workshops, solar or electronics resellers: Phase 1 for tools, hardware, machinery, lighting and new energy.
• Interior design, renovation, building supply, homeware and furniture shops: Phase 2. This is my phase: wall panels, cladding, flooring, kitchen and bathroom products, furniture and decor.
• Clothing, kids, baby, beauty, health and food businesses: Phase 3.

If your products cross two phases, pick the one that matters most. Staying for two phases means an extra week in Guangzhou, and most first-timers are better off doing one phase well.

How many days do you need?

Here’s what I recommend for a first trip to one phase. It’s based on my own trips, not an official rule:

So plan for about 5 to 7 days on the ground. Three days at the fair is enough to cover one phase properly without rushing. If you’re only there for two days, go in with a very tight shortlist of halls.

Step 1: Register as a buyer (it’s free)

• Pre-register online. All overseas buyers need to pre-register, either in the Canton Fair App or on the online Buyer Service System (Chinese Consulate-General in Perth).
• The badge is free for new overseas buyers (MOFCOM).
• Invitation letter. New buyers can generate one when they finish their badge application (consulate notice). Handy for your employer, insurer or airline.
• Where to collect your badge: badge offices at Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, designated hotels in Guangzhou, and the Canton Fair’s Hong Kong office (MOFCOM).
• What to bring: your passport, a recent passport photo and your business card (Canton Fair Hong Kong office). Don’t lose the badge: a replacement costs extra.

Step 2: Check your visa

Good news for Kiwis: New Zealand ordinary passport holders can currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges or transit. The policy runs until 31 December 2026 (Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland).

New Zealand is also on China’s 240-hour visa-free transit list, if you’re flying on to a third country (National Immigration Administration). Visa rules change, so check the embassy website before you book, and make sure your passport has plenty of validity left.

Step 3: Getting there from New Zealand

Flying

• Direct: China Southern flies direct from Auckland to Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN). The flight is around 11 to 12 hours (flight schedules).
• Via Hong Kong: fly Auckland to Hong Kong, then take the high-speed train from West Kowloon to Guangzhou South. The fastest trains take about 47 minutes (overview). There’s also a ferry from Hong Kong straight to Pazhou Ferry Terminal, right next to the fair, with fast-track immigration for buyers (Guangdong government guide).

From the airport to the fair

• Metro: take Line 3 from the airport, change to Line 8 at Kecun, and get off at Pazhou or Xingangdong (Guangdong government guide).
• Rail: there’s also an intercity railway from the airport to Pazhou Station.
• Shuttles and taxis: the fair runs shuttle buses, and taxis drop off at Zhanchangzhong Road (Area A) or the east side of Area C (China Foreign Trade Centre).

Which metro exit for which hall

Source: China Foreign Trade Centre. Arriving by train? From Guangzhou South, take Line 2 and change to Line 8 at Changgang. From Guangzhou East, Line 11 runs straight to Pazhou (Guangdong government guide).

Step 4: Where to stay

Metro Line 8 runs right past the fair, so anywhere along it makes your daily trip easy (transport guide). These are the areas I’d look at:

• Pazhou: walking distance to the halls. Most convenient, and usually the first to book out.
• Kecun and Chigang: a few stops away on Line 8. Often better value, with plenty of places to eat.
• Zhujiang New Town and Tianhe: Guangzhou’s modern business district. Great hotels and restaurants, a short metro or taxi ride to the fair.

Step 5: Phone, payments and internet

• Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you leave. Most shops, taxis and restaurants in China use them. Both now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards (Beijing government guide), and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade suggests downloading them before you go (MFAT). Carry some cash (Chinese yuan, CNY) as a backup.
• Plan for blocked apps. Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and Google services like Search, Maps and Gmail are blocked in mainland China (Freedom House). International roaming or a travel eSIM usually still lets you use them, so sort that out before you fly. Download WeChat too: most suppliers will want to chat there.
• Get travel insurance. SafeTravel recommends comprehensive cover, including medical evacuation (SafeTravel). Register your trip on SafeTravel while you’re there.
• Pack for warm weather. Guangzhou in October averages a high of about 29°C and a low of about 21°C (World Meteorological Organization). You’ll walk a lot, so wear comfortable shoes.
• Bring a power adapter and a power bank. You’ll use your phone all day for photos, translation and notes.

How to get the most out of the fair

1. Make a shortlist before you go. Use the Canton Fair App to find exhibitors in your category and note their hall and booth numbers.
2. Bring plenty of business cards and a simple one-page list of what you’re looking for: product, specs, quantity, target price and where it’s going.
3. Photograph every booth you like, including the booth number and the business card, so you can match them up later.
4. Ask the same questions everywhere: price, MOQ, lead time, packaging, certificates and sample cost. Then you can compare like with like.
5. Check the certificates your market needs. Many products need to meet New Zealand or Australian standards. Ask for test reports at the booth.
6. Don’t pay a deposit on the spot. Get samples first, check the factory, and work out your landed cost before you commit.
7. Follow up within a week. Suppliers meet thousands of buyers. A quick message with your photo and notes keeps you top of mind.

Before you order, work out what each unit will really cost once it’s in New Zealand. Here’s how landed cost works, and my beginner’s guide to importing from China.

Your Canton Fair checklist

• Phase chosen and dates locked in
• Pre-registered as a buyer and invitation letter saved
• Passport valid, visa rules checked
• Flights and a hotel near Metro Line 8 booked
• Alipay and WeChat Pay set up, eSIM or roaming sorted
• Travel insurance and SafeTravel registration done
• Business cards, product brief and target prices ready
• Power bank, adapter and comfortable shoes packed

Frequently asked questions

Can’t make it, or want help planning your trip?

I’ll be at the 140th Canton Fair this October. Whether you’re going yourself or want someone on the ground for you, I can help:

• Planning your trip: which phase and halls to focus on, where to stay and what to ask suppliers.
• Sourcing for you at the fair: send me your product list and I’ll find, compare and shortlist suppliers. See pricing.
• After the fair: samples, landed cost, shipping to New Zealand and customs, so your first order goes smoothly.

Your first chat is free. Book a call, or message me on Instagram, Messenger or WhatsApp.

Sources

• Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM): 140th Canton Fair dates, phases, scale and buyer services
• Chinese Consulate-General in Perth: Canton Fair buyer pre-registration
• Canton Fair Hong Kong office: badge collection requirements
• Chinese Embassy in New Zealand: visa-free entry for NZ passport holders
• Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland: visa-free policy extension
• National Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit
• China Foreign Trade Centre: getting to the Canton Fair Complex
• Guangdong government (Newsgd): Canton Fair transport guide
• Guangzhou to Hong Kong high-speed train
• Auckland to Guangzhou flight schedules
• Beijing Chaoyang government: foreign cards on WeChat Pay and Alipay
• MFAT: living in China
• Freedom House: Freedom on the Net 2024, China
• SafeTravel: China
• World Meteorological Organization: Guangzhou climate
• Canton Fair overview