QUICK ANSWER The Canton Fair, officially the China Import and Export Fair, is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, with 32,000+ exhibitors. The next session, the 141st, runs in three phases from April 15 to May 5, 2027; the 140th closed on November 4, 2026. The overseas buyer badge is free: pre-register at buyer.cantonfair.org.cn and collect it in Guangzhou. A US passport holder needs an M business visa unless the trip qualifies for 240-hour visa-free transit. After the fair, orders from several suppliers can ship to the US in one consolidated container.
A Canton Fair trip lets you compare Chinese suppliers face to face, a whole product category in a few days. The orders you place afterwards are checked, shipped and entered like any other order imported from China. Platton is a US import forwarder. We bring fair orders home and keep every quote, document and container in view on one AI-driven platform.
What the China Import and Export Fair is
The China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, was established in 1957 and ran 139 sessions without interruption before the 140th.
The Canton Fair at a glance (source: official site)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hosts | China's Ministry of Commerce and the People's Government of Guangdong Province |
| Organizer | China Foreign Trade Centre |
| Venue | China Import and Export Fair Complex, No. 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Haizhu District (Pazhou), Guangzhou 510335 |
| Sessions | Spring and autumn, each in three phases |
| Opening hours | 9:30 to 18:00 |
| Exhibition area | 1.55 million square meters |
| Exhibitors | 32,000+ |
| Overseas buyers at the 140th session | 352,000 from 219 countries and regions |
Canton Fair 2026 dates and the next spring session
The 140th session, phase by phase
The fair groups exhibitors into 13 categories and 54 exhibition sections, so check which phase holds yours before you book.
140th Canton Fair phases, autumn 2026
| Phase | Dates | Official theme | Main product sections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | October 15 to 19 | Advanced Manufacturing | Household appliances, consumer electronics, industrial automation, machinery, new energy vehicles, vehicle parts, motorcycles, bicycles, lighting, new materials and chemicals, hardware, tools |
| Changeover | October 20 to 22 | No exhibition | Booth dismantling and setup |
| Phase 2 | October 23 to 27 | Quality Home Life | Ceramics, kitchenware and tableware, household items, home decorations, gardening, festival products, gifts and premiums, building and decorative materials, bathroom equipment, furniture |
| Changeover | October 28 to 30 | No exhibition | Booth dismantling and setup |
| Phase 3 | October 31 to November 4 | Better Life | Toys, baby and maternity products, clothing, sportswear, shoes, cases and bags, home textiles, office supplies, medical devices and health products, food, personal care, pet products |
When the 141st spring session opens
The organizer lists the 141st session (spring 2027) on cantonfair.org.cn: Phase 1 from April 15 to 19, Phase 2 from April 23 to 27 and Phase 3 from May 1 to 5, 2027. The 139th ran from April 15 to May 5, 2026, and the 140th from October 15 to November 4, 2026. Book flights on the official dates, not the "expected" dates some travel sites show.
Registering as an overseas buyer and collecting the badge
Pre-registration in the Buyer Service System
Pre-registration and invitation letters run through the Buyer Service System at buyer.cantonfair.org.cn. First-time attendees create an account, complete their attendance intent and apply for the badge with an image of the passport and a badge photo. Returning attendees log in, complete attendance intent and request an invitation letter if they need one.
Picking up the buyer badge in Guangzhou
The official badge guide asks for your original passport, a business card and the QR code receipt from pre-registration. Foreign passport holders are encouraged to use the registration offices outside the Complex; for the 140th session these are at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (T2 and T3 arrivals), Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office and 60 designated hotels in Guangzhou. The fair has never authorized any third party to provide badge services, so skip anyone selling badges or tickets.
Badge fees for buyers, interpreters and assistants
Interpreters must show proof of a translation qualification (CATTI, NAETI or a foreign-language degree from a university in mainland China).
Badge types and fees, 140th session
| Badge | Cost | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas buyer badge | Free, including replacement and renewal | One person, one badge; valid for later sessions; no reselling or lending |
| Interpreter or assistant badge | RMB 300 per day plus a RMB 50 administrative fee; RMB 200 to replace a lost badge | One of each per buyer per phase; the buyer applies at least 2 days ahead |
Entering China on a US passport
The US is not on China's 30-day visa-free list (50 countries as of May 21, 2026), so a US citizen visiting the fair needs a visa unless the trip qualifies for 240-hour transit. There is no special fair visa.
M visa or 240-hour transit for a US buyer
| M business visa | 240-hour visa-free transit | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | Any fair trip, including a round trip from the US | A trip that continues from China to a third country or region |
| What you need | A signed invitation letter from a trade partner in China; a passport valid for more than six months with two blank visa pages | An ordinary passport and an onward ticket with a confirmed seat and date |
| Limits | Filed at the embassy or consulate that covers your state; the Los Angeles consulate takes no applications by mail | Up to 10 days; entry through a designated port such as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport; work needs a visa |
| When to act | One to two months before travel, as the Los Angeles consulate advises; processing usually takes about 4 business days, or 3 express | When you book flights |
The M business visa and the fair's invitation letter
China issues the M visa for commercial and trade activities. The Embassy's requirements ask for an invitation letter that names you and describes the visit, with the inviting party's seal and signature, and the Los Angeles consulate adds that a letter sent only by email is not accepted. The organizer says its own invitation letter from the Buyer Service System can be used for the visa application, so confirm with your visa office that the letter you print carries the seal and signature it asks for. You apply online in COVA first, then submit the passport and originals at the visa office.
240-hour visa-free transit through Guangzhou
US citizens are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit when they travel on from China to a third country or region. Besides Baiyun International Airport, the Pazhou Ferry Terminal in Guangzhou is a designated entry port. If you enter in Guangdong, you may move anywhere in the province, supplier meetings included, and leave from any open port in it.
TAKEAWAY Pre-register, get the invitation letter and settle the visa or transit route before you book flights.
Working the fair floor as a buyer
Building a supplier shortlist before you fly
Go in with a target list. Use the exhibitor and product search on the official site to find booths in your sections and group them by hall. Factory visits fit the changeover days between phases, so confirm those appointments before you fix your flights.
What to write down at every booth
Booth notes and what they decide after the fair
| Write down | What it decides after the fair |
|---|---|
| Company, booth number, contact and model numbers | Matching each quote to the product you saw |
| Factory or trading company | Price structure and which supplier checks to run (fake supplier red flags) |
| Price, currency, Incoterm and the port named in the price | What the price covers and where your freight starts (FOB or EXW) |
| MOQ and lead time | Order size and the ready date your shipping plan works back from |
| Carton size, gross weight and units per carton | Cubic meters, the freight quote and container fill |
| Material and a plain product description | The commercial invoice description and the HTS code at US entry |
| Batteries inside or packed with the goods | Dangerous goods rules for air and ocean (lithium batteries) |
Prices, MOQs and samples at the booth
Treat booth prices as benchmarks. Compare the same product across several booths, state the quantity you expect to order, and ask for a price on a trial quantity. Ask for a sample before any order; the guide to importing samples covers the US entry and duty a sample faces.
TAKEAWAY Use the fair to build a shortlist and collect accurate data.
After the fair: supplier checks, samples and inspection
Between the fair and the purchase order, confirm that each shortlisted exhibitor is what its booth suggested. Fake supplier red flags covers the registration and payment checks that protect a deposit, and a factory audit shows the capacity and quality systems a booth cannot.
Approve a sample and keep it as the reference for production. Before the balance payment, book a pre-shipment inspection of the finished goods.
Before the cargo moves, ask each supplier for its commercial invoice and packing list and check them against the order (supplier document validation).
Shipping orders from several Canton Fair suppliers to the US
Buyers consolidation, LCL or direct FCL
A fair trip often ends with orders at several factories, each ready on a different date. With several suppliers, FCA usually works best, and FOB works when every supplier uses the same loading port.
Shipping options for Canton Fair orders
| Option | Fits when | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Separate LCL per supplier | Combined volume under about 13 to 15 cbm | A shared container, a CFS stop and a US entry per shipment |
| Buyers consolidation | Several suppliers with about 13 to 15 cbm or more in total | Suppliers deliver to one origin warehouse by a cutoff 48 to 72 hours before sailing; one container, one US entry |
| Direct FCL | One supplier fills 60% or more of a 40HQ | That supplier ships sealed from the factory; the rest consolidate separately |
| Air freight | Urgent goods, samples or a late supplier | The fastest option, priced by chargeable weight (air vs ocean) |
Sailing times from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to each US port are in China to US transit times. The container capacity calculator shows how much of a container your orders fill, and FCL vs LCL compares the two modes.
ISF, entry type and China tariffs on fair orders
Every fair order goes through a US entry, whatever its value. For ocean cargo, the importer's ISF is due at least 24 hours before loading at the Chinese port (19 CFR 149.2). De minimis is suspended for all modes except international mail (91 FR 37789), and for mail under a concurrent CBP rule, so a shipment of $800 or less still needs a formal or informal entry. Goods from China carry Section 301 duties on top of the HTS rate; import tax from China has the full calculation.
TAKEAWAY Once your fair orders add up to about 13 to 15 cbm, one consolidated container usually costs less than separate LCL shipments.
How Platton helps with Canton Fair orders
Platton is an import-focused US freight forwarder with offices in Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Savannah and memberships in WCA, JCtrans and NCBFAA. After the fair, we bring your orders from South China to the US by ocean or air, consolidated or direct, and collect the supplier documents at origin.
Buyers consolidation from Guangzhou and Shenzhen
Guangzhou and Shenzhen are among our highest-volume consolidation hubs. You send the supplier list, PO numbers and ready dates. We give each supplier delivery instructions and a cutoff, and record each PO at our origin warehouse with photos, cartons, weight and dimensions. If a supplier runs late, you hear about it before the cutoff. For 15 cbm from five suppliers, buyers consolidation typically saves 30 to 45 percent compared with shipping each PO as its own LCL.
Paperwork from every fair supplier, checked at origin
Our supplier document validation service collects each supplier's commercial invoice and packing list before the container sails. We check that every line is complete, with values, descriptions and quantities, and match the carton counts to what reached the warehouse. An incomplete invoice or packing list is flagged to you before the goods leave China.
Ocean and air freight from South China to US gateways
We ship ocean freight from Shenzhen (Yantian), Guangzhou and every other major China gateway, with weekly sailings on Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen and Hapag-Lloyd. Those sailings run to Los Angeles and Long Beach, Seattle and Tacoma, Oakland, New York and New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk and Houston. Urgent orders and goods from a late supplier go by air freight from Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX) or Hong Kong (HKG). Our lane pages for China to the USA and China to Los Angeles have the port details.
Instant quotes and PO tracking from the origin warehouse
Quotes on our AI-driven platform are instant and live, and the rate locks once you book. Each PO shows up in real-time tracking from receipt at the origin warehouse to arrival at the US port. Automated documentation files every supplier's paperwork on the cargo management platform.
Common questions about the Canton Fair
Is the Canton Fair free to attend?
Yes. The overseas buyer badge is free, and so are replacements and renewals, once you pre-register at buyer.cantonfair.org.cn. You pay for the trip, the China visa and, if you bring one, an interpreter or assistant badge at RMB 300 per day plus a RMB 50 administrative fee.
When is the next Canton Fair?
The next is the 141st, the spring 2027 session, from April 15 to May 5, 2027, in three phases: April 15 to 19, April 23 to 27, and May 1 to 5. The 140th ran from October 15 to November 4, 2026.
Do US citizens need a visa for the Canton Fair?
Yes, in most cases. China's 30-day visa-free list of May 21, 2026 does not include the US, so a US citizen visiting the fair needs an M business visa. The exception is 240-hour visa-free transit, for a trip that continues from China to a third country or region with a confirmed onward ticket.
How do I get a Canton Fair invitation letter?
Request it in the Buyer Service System at buyer.cantonfair.org.cn. New buyers tick the option to generate the letter with the badge application, and returning buyers get it immediately on submission, ready to print or download. Applicants under 18 cannot get a letter.
Can anyone attend the Canton Fair?
Overseas buyers enter the Complex on a buyer badge. You pre-register online at buyer.cantonfair.org.cn and collect the badge in Guangzhou with your passport. Each person holds one badge, and badges cannot be resold or lent. An interpreter or assistant needs a separate badge, which the buyer requests at least two days ahead.
How many days should you plan for the Canton Fair?
Plan around the phase that carries your products. Each phase runs five days, so one phase may cover your shortlist, with extra days for factory visits. Products that span two or three phases mean a stay of up to three weeks.
Should you place orders at the Canton Fair?
You can, but the fair works best for building a shortlist and collecting quotes. Place the order after you have checked the supplier, approved a sample and agreed on a pre-shipment inspection before the balance payment. Paying a deposit at the booth skips the checks that protect it.
How long does it take to ship Canton Fair orders to the US?
From Guangzhou and Shenzhen, a container reaches Los Angeles and Long Beach in about 14 to 18 days at sea and East Coast ports in 28 to 35 days. Add the production time the supplier quotes and, with buyers consolidation, the days the cargo waits at the origin warehouse for the last supplier.
Related guides for buying from China
- How to import from China to the USA: the full China lane, from supplier to US entry.
- First-time importer guide: what to set up before your first order from abroad.
- Fake supplier red flags: supplier checks to run before you pay a deposit.
- Importing samples: the entry and duty a sample faces in the US.
- Pre-shipment inspection: the factory check before the balance payment.
- Import tax from China: Section 301 and the other duties on Chinese goods.
- Landed cost: what an order costs once it reaches your warehouse.
