The 139th China Import and Export Fair—better known as the Canton Fair—has welcomed 245,000 foreign buyers during its first two phases, a 2.2 percent rise on last spring’s session. Organisers credit the jump to China’s visa-free and visa-on-arrival programmes, which have shaved weeks off lead times for exhibitors and purchasers alike. Representatives of 344 global ‘top 500’ enterprises attended, up 4.9 percent year-on-year, signalling renewed corporate appetite for on-the-ground sourcing. Phase II, which closed on 27 April, focused on household products and gifts, while Phase III (1–5 May) will pivot to toys, maternity goods and leisure items—all sectors that rely heavily on in-person quality checks.
![Canton Fair Draws 245,000 Overseas Buyers, Underscoring China’s Re-Opened Borders]()
Whether attendees are relying on visa-free schemes or need formal M- or Z-class documentation, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The service provides real-time updates on Chinese entry rules, online application tools and courier support, helping buyers and exhibitors reach Guangzhou without administrative delays. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/china/
Guangzhou’s Baiyun airport has added 12 temporary e-channels and staffed bilingual ‘green lanes’ to keep badge-holders moving; hotels in Pazhou report occupancy north of 95 percent. For mobility teams the fair is more than a trade show: many multinationals use the trip to rotate engineers across mainland factory sites, take advantage of the 144-hour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area transit waiver, and stage regional leadership meetings. Companies should remind staff that the visa-free entry granted for Canton Fair cannot be converted into a work-type residence permit; separate Z-visa sponsorship is still required for longer-term assignments. With Phase III expected to push total footfall beyond 300,000, Guangzhou’s performance is being watched as a bellwether for China’s role in global supply-chain re-routing amid geopolitical tensions. The gradual rebound suggests that, despite diversification rhetoric, buyers still value in-person engagement when sourcing from the world’s largest manufacturing hub.
Whether attendees are relying on visa-free schemes or need formal M- or Z-class documentation, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The service provides real-time updates on Chinese entry rules, online application tools and courier support, helping buyers and exhibitors reach Guangzhou without administrative delays. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/china/
Guangzhou’s Baiyun airport has added 12 temporary e-channels and staffed bilingual ‘green lanes’ to keep badge-holders moving; hotels in Pazhou report occupancy north of 95 percent. For mobility teams the fair is more than a trade show: many multinationals use the trip to rotate engineers across mainland factory sites, take advantage of the 144-hour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area transit waiver, and stage regional leadership meetings. Companies should remind staff that the visa-free entry granted for Canton Fair cannot be converted into a work-type residence permit; separate Z-visa sponsorship is still required for longer-term assignments. With Phase III expected to push total footfall beyond 300,000, Guangzhou’s performance is being watched as a bellwether for China’s role in global supply-chain re-routing amid geopolitical tensions. The gradual rebound suggests that, despite diversification rhetoric, buyers still value in-person engagement when sourcing from the world’s largest manufacturing hub.
