On April 7, The Chinese Central Government Decided That Given The Global Pandemic, The #127thCantonFair Would Be Launched Online From Mid To Late June.

We Will Invite Companies From China And Around The World To Exhibit Their Products Online.

Powered By Advanced Information Technology, We Will Provide Around-The-Clock Services For Online Product Promotion, Matchmaking And Business Negotiations.

On Our Internet-Enabled International Trade Platform For Quality And Speciality Products, Chinese And International Businesses Can Place Orders And Cut Deals Without The Hassle Of Travel.

We Will Be In Touch With You Through Our Official Website, Social Media And Emails On The Latest Information. By Joining Hands We Will Prevail Over This Pandemic!

Canton Fair 2020 Dates: From Mid To Late June,2020

Canton Fair Details: Please Check Canton Fair Website

The 127th Canton Fair Will be A E canton fair or Canton Fair Online.

You will Find Canton Fair Products or Canton fair Products List, and Find Lots of Canton Fair Suppliers

The Canton Fair: What Is It, Why You Should Go ，Tips for Your Trip

WELCOME TO THE 127th CANTON FAIR

China Import and Export Fair (also known as the Canton Fair), is established in 1957, which is held every spring and autumn. The Fair boasts an exhibition area of 1.18 million m² per session, with 150,000 exhibit varieties in 16 industries, and the number of exhibitors from home and abroad stands at nearly 25,000. In each session, about 200,000 buyers attend the Fair from more than 210 countries and regions all over the world

Canton Fair – Index

• When does the Canton Fair begin?

• How to sign up for the Canton Fair

• Visa for the Canton Fair

• International flights to China

• How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai

• Tour to attend the Canton Fair

• Hotels for the Canton Fair

• Health Insurance

• Internet and communications

• Getting around Guangzhou by taxi or metro

• Translators

• Preparing for the Show

• Conclusion

Tip 1.

When does the Canton Fair begin

More information please check: Canton Fair

Tip 2.How to sign up for the Canton Fair

Please complete the following form to register for an official invitation letter and pre-register for your buyer’s badge. As a new buyer, you’ll also be eligible to enjoy award-winning Canton Fair services free of charge!

REGISTER ON LINE:Click Here

Registration

Getting your Buyer Card via Online Pre-application is your option

Gentle Reminder for Overseas Buyers

Getting your Buyer Card via Online Pre-application is your option.

The Buyer card is the only official admission to Canton Fair.

If you have got a Buyer card, please pay attention to the following information: The Badge is valid for multiple sessions of the Fair, which ensures your entrance to the Fair directly and saves your time with an easy access. If you forgot to bring or lose it, re-application will cost you 200 RMB/card as service fee. The previous badge will be invalid right after re-application, please ensure the badge you wear is the newest.

1.How to Register

The registration peak hour usually occurs at 9:30am to 12:00am on April 15, April 23, May 1 (Spring session) and October 15, October 23, November 1 (Autumn session). To save your time queuing up at the fairground, three ways to register are recommended: :

★The BEST choice to get your First Free Buyer Badge: Please pre-apply for the Buyer Card via Pre-apply Buyer Badge on Canton Fair’s official website, before getting your card at the Overseas Buyers’ Registration Offices

★Please get your Entry Card at appointed hotels in Guangzhou and nearby area.

★Please get your Entry Card at  Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office

2. When and Where to Register

Canton Fair is held two sessions a year; one is in Spring, the other in Autumn. And every session is separated into 3 phases.

(1) Four Overseas Buyers’ Registration Offices set up in China Import and Export Fair Complex (map):

Phase I

    Apr./Oct.14, 10:30-18:00

    Apr./Oct. 15-18,  8:30-18:00

    Apr. /Oct.19,  8:30-16:00

Phase II

    Apr./Oct. 23-26,  8:30-18:00

    Apr. /Oct.27,  8:30-16:00

Phase III

    In Spring: May 1-4, 8:30-18:00，May 5, 8:30-14:00

    In Autumn: Oct. 31-Nov.3, 8:30-18:00， Nov. 4, 8:30-14:00

(2) Overseas Buyers’ Registration Office in appointed hotels

Phase I

           Apr. /Oct.14-17,  8:30-18:00

Phase II

           Apr. /Oct.22-24,  8:30-18:00

Phase III

          In Spring: Apr. 30-May 1,  8:30-18:00;     May 2,  8:30-14:00

          In Autumn: Oct. 30-31, 8:30-18:00;     Nov.1, 8:30-14:00

（3）Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 12:30pm & 2pm to 5pm; Closed on Saturday, Sunday and in Hong Kong Public Holidays

3. The Brief Flow Chart of Overseas Buyers’ Registration Centers in the Fair Complex

Guide for Overseas Buyers’ Registration

4. Registration Notice

Overseas buyers should provide requesteddocuments to get registered.

Notes:

1.Valid personal overseas documents include: Overseas passport, H.K./Macao Home-return Permit, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate, Valid Chinese passports as Overseas Chinese orwith above-one-year overseas work visa.

2. The size of the passport photo is 5cm X 4cm.

Registration Guide for Foreign Officials and Chinese Staff of Consulates in Guangzhou

1.    When and Where to Register

Canton Fair is held two sessions a year; one is in Spring, the other in Autumn. And every session is separated into 3 phases.

Four Overseas Buyers’ Registration Offices set up in China Import and Export Fair Complex (map):

Phase I

    Apr./Oct.14, 10:30-18:00

    Apr./Oct. 15-18,  8:30-18:00

    Apr. /Oct.19,  8:30-16:00

Phase II

    Apr./Oct. 23-26,  8:30-18:00

    Apr. /Oct.27,  8:30-16:00

Phase III

    In Spring: May 1-4, 8:30-18:00，May 5, 8:30-14:00

    In Autumn: Oct. 31-Nov.3, 8:30-18:00， Nov. 4, 8:30-14:00

2. Registration Notice

Overseas buyers should provide requested documents to get registered.

Notes:

1. Valid personal overseas documents include: Overseas passport, H.K./ Macao Home-return Permit, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate, Permanent Resident Permit of Foreign Countries or a Chinese passport with overseas employment visa valid for over one year.

2. The size of the passport photo is 5cm X 4cm.

3. If you have got a Buyer Card, please pay attention to the following information: The Badge is valid for multiple sessions of the Fair, which ensures your entrance to the Fair directly and saves your time with an easy access. If you forgot to bring or lose it, re-application will cost you 200 RMB/card as service fee. The previous badge will be invalid right after re-application, please ensure the badge you wear is the newest.

The Entry Badge of Overseas Buyers’ Local Representatives

1. When to Register

Canton Fair is held two sessions a year; one is in Spring, the other in Autumn. And every session is separated into 3 phases.

Phase I

     Apr./Oct.14, 10:30-18:00

     Apr./Oct. 15-18,  8:30-18:00

     Apr. /Oct.19,  8:30-16:00

Phase II

     Apr./Oct. 23-26,  8:30-18:00

     Apr. /Oct.27,  8:30-16:00

Phase III

     In Spring: May 1-4, 8:30-18:00 ;  May 5, 8:30-14:00

     In Autumn: Oct. 31-Nov.3, 8:30-18:00 ;  Nov. 4, 8:30-14:00

2. Where to Register

Four Overseas Buyers’ Registration Offices set up in China Import and Export Fair Complex (map)

3. Registration Notice

Notes:

Based on the regulation of Ministry of Public Security, that the first generation ID Card is not valid anymore form Jan.1,2013, Canton Fair would not accept it as registration document.

Invitation Application

Canton Fair invitation is an important credential for getting visa to China and attending Canton Fair.

 With the Invitation, overseas buyers could:

• Apply for Visa to China.

• Get registered and free entry badge to the Fair.

 Overseas buyers could apply invitation for Canton Fair through:

BEST (Buyer E-Service Tool)

Regular Buyers go>>>

• New Buyers go>>>

• Canton Fair Call Centre, China Foreign Trade Centre

• the Economic & Commercial Counsellor’s Office of the Embassy (The Economic & Commercial Section of the Consulate General) of P.R. China in your region, Add, Tel & Fax No.: Please make inquiries locally.

• Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office

• The Chinese foreign trade corporations (enterprises) with whom you are business-related

• By contacting overseas cooperative organizations of China Foreign Trade Centre

* For Local Representatives without Canton Fair’s Invitation for Foreign Company’s Representative Office in China, admission fee (RMB300 / person / day) and relevant documents are required.

BEST – An Easy and Fast Access 

BEST – Buyer E-Service Tool, is the Canton Fair’s online free self-service platform especially for overseas buyers. Regular buyers could log on BEST against user name and password. New buyers can apply online for free.

‘Regular Buyer Recommending New Buyer’ Reward Program: The regular buyer can send the recommendation letter of Canton Fair to new buyer through ‘BEST’ (Buyer E-Service Tool) on Canton Fair official website. The new buyer can apply the first overseas buyer entry badge for free with the recommendation letter. Furthermore, the regular buyer will be richly rewarded.

Tip 3.Visa for the Canton Fair

Visa Application

Please go to the Embassy or Consulate General of P.R.China in your country with the Official Invitation of the Canton Fair to apply for the visa. The official invitation must list the Buyer’s Name, Nationality and Company Name.

1. Please apply visa to China at your country or regular residence place before arriving in China. ( Missions Overseas)

2. Overseas buyers, who would enter China through Guangzhou ports but do not have enough time to apply for visa to Chinese authorized agencies abroad，may apply for port visa to Guangzhou port visa agencies. Please visit www.gdcrj.com, the website of Division of Exit & Entry Administration Department of Public Security of Guangdong Province, for more details.

Buyers who need to leave Mainland China and come back again to Guangzhou during the Canton Fair,may apply for multi-entry visa. If necessary, please contact the Division of Aliens and Exit-Entry Administration of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau (Add: No.155 Jie Fang Nan Road, Guangzhou).

3. Fair visitors can also entrust the visa application to China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd.(Appointed Travel Agent of the Canton Fair)  Tel:852-2853 9113, Email: op-btmc@ctshk.com.

Attendance Guide for Overseas Buyers

The information of Attendance Guide is valid before May. 5th, 2019

Attendance Guide for Overseas Buyers of the 125th Canton Fair

第125届广交会境外采购商指南之与会须知 (PDF)

Attendance Guide for Overseas Buyers of the 125th Canton Fair (English) （PDF)

Hinweise für ausländische Käufer der 125. chinesischen Im- und Exportwarenmesse （German） （PDF)

Guía para compradores extranjeros de la 125a sesión de la Feria de Cantón — notas para los participantes (Spanish) （PDF)

Guide aux Acheteurs Etrangers à la 125e Foire de Canton (French) （PDF)

Giuda per esteri acquirenti partecipanti alla 125a Fiera di Canton (Italian) （PDF)

第125回中国輸出入商品交易会海外バイヤーへのご案内における出展のお知らせ (Japanese) (PDF)

Инструкция иностранным закупщикам по участию в 125-ой Гуанчжоуской ярмарке (Russian) （PDF)

Guia para Compradores do Exterior da 125ª Feira de Cantão (Portuguese) （PDF)

دليل حضور المشتري الأجنبي إلى الدورة ال 125 من معرض كانتون （Arabic）(PDF)

3.Visa for the Canton Fair

You don’t need to go to the Chinese Consulate in person. You can hire a visa service to do this for you (often very cheaply).

Citizens of most countries require a visa to enter Mainland China (citizens of most Western countries do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong, however). In order to obtain a VISA, you need to either visit the closest Chinese Consulate to where you live or use a visa agency (i.e. a travel agent). Chinese travel agents are a great way to easily get Chinese visas.

Keep in mind that it takes a couple of weeks to actually get the VISA, so don’t wait until the last second to apply, otherwise, you will have to pay rush fees. China issues most visas as ten years visas now meaning you’ll never have to worry about it again for a long time. You should officially get a business visa which requires an invitation form (easy and free) from the Canton Fair. Non-officially, many people simply visit on a tourist visa.

Here is a TIP: You can apply for a multi-entry business VISA that is good for 10 years. If you use an agency, you have a much higher chance of getting this type of VISA.

TIP: If your VISA outlasts the expiration of your passport, the VISA is still valid. You just need to travel with both passports when going to China.

You should register for the fair beforehand, although you do not need to. If you choose to register at the fair it will cost you 100 RMB (about $20USD). You should register beforehand simply to save the $20 it costs to register at the show.

Keep your badge as you can re-use this badge for future sessions of the show.

Like all Chinese websites, the registration website is terrible. Someone will actually review and approve your badge (check your spam folder). Once approved you will still have to pick up your actual badge at the show. In years after, they will send you a badge during each phase via postal mail for at least a year.

If you don’t pre-register for whatever reason, don’t stress out – just do it at the show and pay the $20 or so in fees.

If you register beforehand, make sure you bring a passport photo and a paper copy of your badge registration. If you forget (like the thousands of other people) you can do it at the show, although be prepared to pay another $5 for the photos and wait in line.

You can get your badge at the show the day before a particular phase opens. If you’re in town and close by to the fair, you can avoid all the lines and get your badge then. Otherwise, the show staff is fairly efficient at dispensing badges but expect to wait 20-30 minutes (your pre-approval for a badge saves you 100RMB, not time).

The most appropriate visa for the Canton Fair is without a doubt a business visa (also called “M visa”). Once you get the invitation letter, you can request the visa at the CVASC, Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your own country (here you’ll find a complete list).

Tip 4.International flights to China

Despite the fact that Guangzhou has an international airport, the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, there are no direct flights from Europe or the United States. It’s usually much easier to land at Hong Kong International Airport (and then take the train to Guangzhou, see the next section) or the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (and then take a domestic flight to Guangzhou).

Tip 5.How to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong

If you land in Hong Kong all you have to do is take the MTR (the subway) to the Hung Hom Railway Station and, from there, stay on the train until Guangzhou East station. The price of the ticket is between 200-250 Yuan and the trip by train lasts about 2 hours.

Note that, during the fair, trains on the Hong Kong – Guangzhou line will be packed. I therefore recommend that you book your ticket in advance.

Tip 6.An organized trip to attend the Canton Fair

Both the Spring and Fall session of the Canton Fair are nearly identical. The Spring session is ideal for finding products for Christmas. The Fall session is ideal for finding products for the next calendar year.

In terms of weather, October and April are very similar. Comfortably warm but not suffocating. Always humid – expect to shower multiple times per day.

What to bring with you to the show:

• Comfortable shoes and breathable clothing

• A rolly bag or backpack to carry all of the materials you’ll accumulate

• A LOT of business cards (ideally with an email address you don’t mind getting spammed to death)

• Your badge and/or registration approval

• A full charged cell phone for photo purposes, ideally with backup power supply

Dress comfortably for the show. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking (including through Metro stations, in queues, and around the show) and Guangzhou is incredibly humid so wearing dress shoes and a suit isn’t exactly practical. Dress in a pair of nice slacks/shorts and a nice polo.

During the show you’re going to accumulate a ton of material and catalogs from Suppliers. If you’re there during the first few hours of a particular phase, Suppliers may even give you rather large gifts (i.e. tea sets). Bring a large backpack or, preferably, a rolly bag to carry everything in.

Bring a ton of business cards but make sure you have a secondary email address on them unless you don’t care about having your email put onto a million Chinese mailing lists.

You’re going to be taking a ton of pictures of products and booths so make sure your phone is fully charged. Better, bring a backup power supply as finding power outlets is difficult.

Tip 7.Hotels for the Canton Fair

Just as with the trains, the hotels will also be packed. It is therefore essential to book your room in advance.

Where you choose to stay during your time at the fair, will largely depend on your budget. The nearer to the fair complex a hotel is, will generally have a correspondingly higher price.

For example, a room at the Westin which is directly connected to the exhibit halls, can cost over $500 per night, whereas a private room at a hostel in central Guangzhou can be as little as $20.

The Westin Pazhou is the most convenient hotel for Canton Fair but also one of the priciest.

Aside from the amenities and star level of accommodations, the main difference will be the amount of time it takes getting to and from the fair each day. After spending a long day walking around the fair complex, speaking with potential vendors, you may rather not ride on a crowded subway for 45 minutes to get back to your hotel.

Guangzhou is a city with over 10 million people and there’s no shortage of rooms in the city, even for last-minute travelers. The best value rooms in the most popular hotels will sell out though so you’re best to book 3 or 4 weeks in advance if you can.

There are only a few hotels close to the actual Canton Fair complex. Expect to pay well over $300 per night (and often well over $500).

In red is the Canton Fair. And in Blue are the closest (and most expensive) hotels.

The poorly drawn red line is the footprint of the Canton Fair Complex.  The Canton Fair complex is 0.6 x 0.8 miles.  It’s BIG.

The 3 blue boxes are the hotels in the area.  The blue box directly below the fair complex is the Westin Pazhou.  Rooms are expensive as well as food and drinks. The buffet is about $70USD per person for dinner.  A cup of tea is about $9USD. They can charge these crazy prices because there isn’t much else around.  Their internet

The next blue box, directly to the east of the Westin is the Hee Fun Apartment hotel. It’s reasonably priced, and most importantly they have a washer and dryer which is great if you’re traveling light.

The top right square is the Shangri-La Hotel, It’s actually pretty hard to get from the south side of the complex area to the north side because the road that cuts through it doesn’t have any walkways across.

There are some restaurants in the underground below Pazhou Station, but besides that, there isn’t much to do or eat in this area.

If you don’t stay at one of the pricy local hotels then pick a hotel near a Metro ideally near Metro Line 8 where the fair is located.

Depending on the level of amenities you prefer, and your budget you might want to stay in a hostel or an Airbnb rather than a hotel. Keep in mind, that prices tend to increase around the time of the fair, and the best accommodations can sell out early.

Also, the standards of accommodation can be quite different from what you might be used to in the US. I recommend finding places with reviews from other guests from the US.

If you decide to use Airbnb, or a hostel, check to make sure the location is convenient to the metro subway system.

Beds tend to fall on the very firm side compared to the states. You might also want to make sure there is a western style toilet!

A popular area for people attending the fair is known as Pearl River New Town. It features a variety of western hotel chains at differing price points, and is also convenient to getting to and from the fair by shuttle bus. This is also a popular nightlife area with many restaurants, bars and also shopping. It is clean, and modern. Even if you don’t stay there, it is worth a visit. There will typically be meetups with other Amazon sellers that take place in this area.

If you are on a more limited budget, or prefer a more adventurous location, you can find many lower cost options further away from the complex. As long as there is a subway station nearby, then you will be able to easily and inexpensively get to and from the complex.

Tip 8.Health insurance

Traveling to Asia without trip insurance is, in our opinion, too big a risk: if an accident should happen, no hospital will accept you unless you can pay in cash (and the costs are often too high even if your credit card has a high limit) or you don’t have health insurance to cover the expense.

Tip 9.Internet and communications

You probably already know this, but I still want to warn you: many western sites (such as Gmail, Facebook or Youtube) are blocked in China. If you would like to access those sites without trouble, you should get a VPN service (it costs about 8-10 Euro).

Tip 10.Getting around Guangzhou by taxi or metro

The fair is in Guangzhou, one of the three main cities of China (the other two being Shanghai and Beijing).  It’s located very near to Hong Kong. With the new high-speed rail it is less than 1 hour from Kowloon (central Hong Kong) to Guangzhou.

Checkout ChinaTravelGuide.com for full train schedules (this website will be absolutely invaluable for you for China train travel).

Remember, Hong Kong is essentially a separate country with different visa regulations and customs formalities. The biggest implication is to ensure you have a multiple entry visa for China, which most Westerners now receive with 10-year visas BUT make sure you have one. Most Westerners will not need a visa to visit Hong Kong.

Xingang Dong Station and Pazhou Station on Line 8 are the nearest metro stations to the fair.

It’s possible to commute back and forth between Hong Kong and Guangzhou every day but not recommended as it makes for a lot of commuting time, especially when dealing with customs.

Here’s a map of the Guangzhou subway system. Note that, to get to the Canton Fair, you should get off at Pazhou station, which is along Line 8.

To get there from the airport, take Line 3 to the Airport South station (Panyu Square direction) and change for Line 8 at Kecun station (Wanshengwei direction).

To get there from the Guangzhou East train station, where the trains from Hong Kong arrive, take Line 3 to the Guangzhou East Railway Station (Panyu Square direction) and change for Line 8 at Kecun station (Wanshengwei direction).

If instead you decide to get around by taxi (which in China are relatively cheap), it shouldn’t be difficult to find one, both at the airport or the train station or at the fair. I’d like to give you two recommendations:

First, only take “official” taxis and make sure that the driver uses the meter. Don’t get into a random car (black cab) because they will probably try to extort from you an astronomical sum.

Second, make sure you always have a ticket with the address in Chinese characters since Chinese taxi drivers don’t speak a word of English. If you intend to go to the fair, here is the name in Chinese: 中国进出口商品交易会.

Tip 11.Translators

The organizers of the fair offer translation services in English, Spanish, French, Italian and many other languages. It is possible to “hire” a translator directly inside the fair; if you’re fine with a Chinese-English translator all you have to do is book 24 hours in advance while for other languages, you have to book at least 72 hours ahead of time.

Prices vary between 400 Yuan a day for a Chinese-English translator up to 700 Yuan a day for other languages. The service lasts 8 hours and as a custom, you should also offer lunch to the translator. Here are the telephone numbers and email for booking a translator:

English: +862089268110, cantonfairtour@163.com

Other languages: +862089268105, cantonfair.tour@163.com

Tip 12.Preparing for the Show

To have the most successful buying experience at the show, you should do a lot of work beforehand. Here are some tips:

• Determine what products you’re looking for beforehand (don’t go there hoping to find products)

• Research potential Suppliers beforehand using the Canton Fair website

Like any trade show, you should be doing hours of research beforehand on the Suppliers and vendors who will be there. The Canton Fair website isn’t great unfortunately and you’ll have to rely on the Canton Fair’s crappy search functionality which also isn’t great.  I always like to generate a list of 20-30 Suppliers beforehand (along with their booth numbers) that I plan to visit.

Before you attend the show, determine what types of products you are looking for. Do not go to the show to blindly look for products.

Research your products well beforehand including doing competitor research on Amazon. Prepare a list of questions to ask suppliers about your desired products. Good questions to ask suppliers include:

• What are the exact specifications of this product (hopefully you know the important specifications)

• Can I make it in xyz color/size and if so, how much does it cost?

• What are the package dimensions? How many items per box?

• Where is the Supplier based? Who are their main customers? What is a typical order trial order size for them?

You may find some products at the show you never even imagined about but, for the most part, you want to have a predetermined hit list of products to look for.

Most people want two days during each phase they intend to visit. You do not need the full the five days of each phase.

During the first day of the show, talk to as many suppliers as possible and generate a short list of suppliers you want to follow up with the next day. On day two, follow up with these suppliers that you’re really interested in and ask some more in-depth questions including about pricing.

There’s a lot of value in using the Canton Fair as a common meeting ground for current and potential Suppliers. Aside from arranging breakfasts/dinners with current and potential Suppliers, many Suppliers rent hotel rooms that are mini showrooms where the real business is discussed. Allow for an extra day or two of meetings in Guangzhou

Tip 13.Conclusion

Traveling in China is not difficult; and participating in the Canton Fair is even easier since the inhabitants of Guangzhou are used to welcoming an enormous amount of foreign importers every year.

Tips for your stay and attending the fair

Shuttle Buses

One of the most popular methods of getting to and from the fair, are the shuttle buses provided by many of the hotels. These shuttles are free to hotel guests. If you are booking a hotel, be sure to check and see if it is on the list of shuttle providers.

The shuttles have some nice benefits over the subway. Unlike the crowded metro, where you will most likely be standing, you will have a seat on the bus. Although, one time I was stuck in last seat crammed in between people and stuck in traffic!

Also unlike the subway, the buses are usually air conditioned. Being able to sit down under a vent blowing cold air, after a long day in the heat and humidity is obviously great. Keep in mind that a full bus may still be hot.

Not all hotels have shuttles. These are usually also the most popular and expensive locations, and tend to sell out of rooms before hotels which do not provide transportation. Unlike the subway or other options, the availability of the shuttles is not nearly as frequent. While the Canton Fair does many things right, sometimes the ball can be dropped with simple things, such as making it clear where and when a bus will depart from. Finding the pickup location for your shuttle bus at the complex when you are trying to leave, can be incredibly confusing.

Taxis

The most expensive, and my least preferred method of transportation are taxis. I use them only as a last resort, and only once while in Guangzhou. While they are the most expensive, in general you will find the rate to be lower than in the US.

A frequent complaint, is that drivers will often refuse to accept you as a passenger. Competition for taxis can be intense, and there is a good chance you will be passed over for other fares.

Unfortunately, taxi drivers can be dishonest and look to take advantage of visitors. Being unfamiliar with the city, and most likely not being able to speak the local language puts you at a disadvantage. If you use taxis, you may run into some scams.

Probably the most common form of scams with taxis, is overcharging passengers. As mentioned above, the driver can take a longer route than is needed to inflate the fare, or especially common is a driver not turning on the meter and charging an excessive flat fee for a trip which would cost much less using the meter.

Because you will need to use cash, and many visitors carry larger bills, you need to be especially careful when using a taxi. Be sure to check any change you receive back from the driver to ensure that it is real! Counterfeit currency is rampant, and there have been numerous accounts of taxi drivers giving fake notes back to passengers. Sometimes, the driver will even claim the note you handed them is fake, after having switched it with a counterfeit. If a situation like this happens, do not get angry or react in any way that could result in a physical altercation, but firmly refuse to accept the change and insist on the police being called. More than likely, the driver will relent and give you the proper change back.

Similar to using Uber, but without the benefit of being able to transmit your destination through an app, there can be a strong language barrier when using taxis.

If your phone is not carrier locked and has the appropriate frequencies, you can bring it with you and purchase a local SIM card, which is incredibly valuable during the fair.

The complex has wifi, but it is typically very unreliable and slow. Being able to do product research and price comparisons immediately while speaking(or right afterward) to a vendor can save you a lot of time spent researching products later. Outside the fair, it’s obviously a plus to have access to apps such as maps, translators, and others.

As you may know, many foreign internet sites and services are blocked in China by the so called Great Firewall. Some of the most popular sites we take for granted such as: Facebook, Google(gmail, maps, search, Youtube), and various news sites are inaccessible without some effort. As I mentioned in the section on Hong Kong, if you fly to HK you can purchase a sim card which will allow you unrestricted data access while on the mainland. If your phone allows tethering, you can also use it to share your data connection with your laptop or tablet.

One of the most common ways to bypass internet restrictions, is to use a Virtual Private Network or VPN. Essentially these are services which you use as an intermediary connection, in order to connect to a site which is blocked in China. There are many options available. Some are free, and others charge a monthly subscription.

Since the availability of these services is constantly changing as the government shuts them down in some way or another, if you plan to use a VPN during your stay, then you should check to ensure it is currently working in China before you leave. Checking this forum before you depart should give you some leads on a good choice.

If you have a laptop or android device with you, there is a service called Lantern which can be used to access restricted sites while in China. It is free and fairly reliable.

Some of the more upscale hotels will provide unrestricted internet for their guests.

If you need help sourcing products or manufacturers without attending the Canton Fair.you can fill out the form below in advance because I will be there!

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