Hundreds of thousands of foreign buyers and sellers visit Guangzhou twice a year for the Canton Fair, which is the world’s largest and most well-known trade show. For businesses that want to buy things from China, understanding the details of this important event could mean the difference between a successful buying trip and a missed opportunity. As the 138th Canton Fair approaches in the fall of 2025, careful planning is needed to make the most of this unbeatable business chance.
The Magnitude and Legacy of the Canton Fair
The Canton Fair, which first opened its doors in 1957, has grown into China’s most remarkable worldwide marketplace. The huge complex covers 1.55 million square meters and has 55 exhibition areas where more than 25,000 businesses show their products. More than 130,000 foreign buyers from 215 countries have visited recent sessions, suggesting a remarkable growth trajectory that highlights the fair’s international importance.
The fair is different from other trade shows around the world because it covers such a wide range of topics. Because there are more than 60,400 standard show stands and more than 1.8 million products in 50 categories, attendees can get to a unique collection of makers, suppliers, and cutting-edge goods. 69.7% of all visitors are buyers from countries in the Belt and Road Initiative. This shows how important the fair is as a link between Chinese manufacturers and markets around the world.
Navigating the Three Strategic Phases of Canton Fair 2025
From October 15 to November 4, 2025, the Canton Fair will be spread out over three different stages. Focusing on each step, which targets a different industry, lets buyers focus on relevant sellers and goods without having to go through all of them at once.
Phase 1, electronics and home appliances, goods and tools, machines, cars and replacement parts, and building materials are the key topics of Phase 1, which runs from October 15–19, 2025. A lot of companies come to this phase to find consumer goods, construction tools, industrial technology, and smart manufacturing solutions. This phase will be especially helpful to companies involved in clever manufacturing systems, industrial automation, and green energy technology.
Phase 2, which is set for October 23–27, 2025, is devoted to gifts, home décor, and market items. Retailers looking for cookware, furniture, yard supplies, sanitary goods, and unique advertising items are drawn to this lifestyle-focused phase. During this time, importers of home furniture, holiday goods, and interior design find amazing deals.
Phase 3, textiles and everyday basics such as office supplies, bags and luggage, food, medicine and health products, and sports and entertainment items are the focus of Phase 3, which runs from October 31 to November 4, 2025. This last step should be given top importance by fashion sellers, textile importers, and companies that source children’s clothes, sports equipment, and personal care items.
Securing Your Business Visa for China Through Atlys
Getting a business visa for China is still the first step to take before starting a Canton Fair journey. A valid passport that is at least six months old, two passport-sized pictures, an official call to the Canton Fair, and business papers attesting to the applicant’s link with the firm are all needed for the application process. The offer, which is an important document for asking for a visa, is available via the Canton Fair website’s Buyer E-Service Tool.
It may be very difficult to handle visa requirements, especially for first-time candidates who are not familiar with Chinese immigration processes. Atlys revolutionises the experience here by giving hassle-free visa services that make the entire process go more smoothly. Businesses may focus on planning for their sourcing goals while visa professionals take care of the bureaucratic difficulties, removing the need to deal with complicated record requirements and unpredictable processing times.
Strategic Registration and Digital Preparation
The official Buyer Service System has made Canton Fair registration a more efficient online method. The first step is to make a buyer account on the Canton Fair website, which needs proper company profile information for verification. First-time guests who successfully finish pre-registration receive their Buyer Badge free of charge, avoiding the 200 RMB service cost. The Buyer Badge is the golden key inside the show halls.
Badge collecting takes place at several available places, such as the registration offices of partner hotels, the hubs at BaiyunInternational Airport, the Pazhou Ferry Terminal, and the Canton Fair Complex. With features including pre-registration administration, real-time exhibitor contact, product information search, supplier matching, and daily schedule planning, the official Canton Fair app becomes an important tool.
Mastering the Pazhou Complex Layout
There are sixteen display rooms spread throughout the three main areas (A, B, and C) of the Canton Fair Complex in HaizhuDistrict. Halls 1–8 are located in Area A, Halls 9–13 are located in Area B, and Halls 14–16 are located in Area C. Buyers may effectively move between pertinent exhibitors by being aware of this setup prior to the event, which saves valuable time.
The Guangzhou Metro makes it easy to get to the complex; Area A is served by Xingangdong Station, while Areas B and C are available from Pazhou Station. International players can take a cab for direct transportation, shuttle buses that leave every 30 minutes (25 RMB), or the metro service (43 minutes, 8 RMB) when they arrive at Baiyun International Airport.
Accommodation and Logistics Planning
Premium hotels like The Westin Pazhou and Shangri-La Guangzhou have direct links to show halls, and rates around the Pazhou Complex range from $50 to $210 per night. Excellent choices for buyers on a tight budget may be found in the Tianhebusiness area, which is easily accessible by metro. Premier hotels, especially those that provide foreign buyer registration services with on-site badge collecting, fill up quickly, so bookings must be made well in advance.
Free shuttle services are provided by places like The LanghamPlace and InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Centre, which makes it easier for guests with busy schedules. Since visitors usually walk several kilometres each day to see sightseeing sites, comfortable walking shoes become a must.
Why Obtaining Your Business Visa for China Matters
Getting a business visa for China is the first step towards ensuring that any Canton Fair visit takes place smoothly. Even the most well-thought-out sourcing plan cannot be applied without proper documentation. Comprehending the rules for visas well in advance helps avoid last-minute issues that might ruin entire business trips.
Getting a business visa for China is the first step towards ensuring that any Canton Fair visit takes place smoothly. Even the most well-thought-out sourcing plan cannot be applied without proper documentation. Comprehending the rules for visas well in advance helps avoid last-minute issues that might ruin entire business trips.
Maximising Your Canton Fair Experience
For foreign customers looking to receive goods from China, the Canton Fair offers exceptional choices. Three essential components must be prioritised for success: choosing the appropriate phase for particular product interests, finishing pre-registration ahead of schedule via official channels, and understanding the complex structure prior to arrival. Having brought together vendors and buyers from throughout the world for 68 years, the show continues to draw hundreds of thousands of professionals each year who find unique sourcing possibilities. What may be a daunting experience is turned into a planned, successful business project that pushes growth and creates priceless long-term supplier connections with careful planning, phase selection, and getting a business visa for China through trustworthy services.