# Sourcing at and after the fair, samples and shipping, scams and red flags

A practical chapter for buyers at the 140th Canton Fair: how to shortlist suppliers by hall before you fly, what to ask at a booth, how to follow up, vet a factory and handle samples and shipping, and the scams reported around badges, touts and freight. Last checked 2026-10-22. Uncle Panda Travel is a licensed China travel agency, not the fair organiser; rules, hours and prices can change, so check the official fair channels before you travel.

## At a glance

- Shortlist before you walk. Phase 2 and Phase 3 each fill Areas A to D with different product sections, so map your categories to hall numbers first. Pick two or three zones and walk them in geographic order.
- At each booth record booth number, contact name and WeChat/WhatsApp, then MOQ, lead time and certifications (CE/FCC/UL). Photograph the booth number before the product.
- Follow up within 48 hours while the conversation is fresh (secondhand trade advice, repeated across several 140th-edition sources). The month after the fair is described as the main order-execution window.
- Before you pay anyone, check that one company name matches on 5 documents: business licence, signboard, business card, quotation header and payee account. A sole trader, third party or offshore payee is a red flag.
- Power banks go in carry-on only: 100Wh or less allowed, 100-160Wh needs airline approval, maximum 2 per passenger, and no bank without a clear 3C/CCC mark on Chinese domestic flights (China Eastern citing CAAC, from 28 June 2025).
- Commercial goods or samples you carry are items to declare at customs (red channel) (not confirmed).
- The overseas buyer badge is free; the fair has not authorised third parties to sell badges or visas, and paid "internal passes" are scams that can lead to confiscation and blacklisting.
- Expect people in hotel lobbies and outside the halls offering "free translation" or "free guiding". Several sources describe this as a way to harvest contacts or steer buyers to brokers.

## 1. Before the fair: shortlist by hall

The fair's website and app run all year, so you can search exhibitors and send enquiries before you fly. The official app also offers booth-finding, appointment and planning tools.

How buyers and trade writers suggest preparing:

- Build a prioritised exhibitor list with booth numbers, products and contacts. Without a target list, one source warns you may not finish even one hall in a day.
- Limit yourself to 2 or 3 zones and walk them in order.
- If you book booth meetings in advance, note that some suppliers deliberately put competing buyers in different time slots (one morning, one afternoon). Ask for a direct mobile number so you can reconfirm after landing.
- Write down what decides a deal for you before you go. Buyers in the 140th edition are reported to ask more about factory location, capacity, lead times, audits and QC systems than before.

### Phase-specific hall pointers

Exact labels from the official hall map; walking routes not inferred.

| Phase | What you are sourcing | Halls (official map) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| P2 | Furniture | 9.3 / 10.2 / 10.3 / 11.3 |
| P2 | Bathroom; building and decoration | 9.1 / 10.1 / 11.1; 11.2 / 12.1 / 12.2 / 13.1 / 13.2 |
| P2 | Kitchenware | 1.2 to 5.2 plus 1.1Y to 4.1Y |
| P2 | Household items; glass artware | 14.3 / 14.4 / 15.2 / 15.3 / 15.4 / 16.2 / 16.3 / 16.4; 14.1 / 14.2 / 15.1 / 15.2 |
| P2 | Gifts; home decorations | 17.2 to 20.2; 17.1 to 20.1 |
| P3 | Toys; bags and cases | 17.1 / 18.1 / 19.1; 17.2 to 20.2 |
| P3 | Home textiles; fabrics and raw materials | 14.1 / 14.2 / 14.3 / 15.1 / 15.2 / 15.3 / 16.2 / 16.3; 14.4 / 15.4 / 16.3 / 16.4 |
| P3 | Food; stationery | 10.2 / 11.2 / 12.2 / 13.2; 9.3 / 10.3 / 11.3 |
| P3 | Garments | 1.1 to 5.1, 2.1Y; sports/casual 6.1 / 7.1 / 1.1Y |

Phase 2 Art Ceramics in hall 9.2 is not cleanly confirmed in the official English extraction.

## 2. At the booth: what to ask and how prices move

What experienced buyers and exhibitors say gets you a usable quotation:

- State your target market, estimated quantity, destination port and delivery timeline. General questions tend to get list prices; specific ones get tiered volume quotations.
- Ask for FOB Guangzhou or FOB Shenzhen and compare tiered prices by MOQ.
- Collect: specifications, target price and MOQ, carton size/CBM and container load quantity, lead time, OEM/ODM capability, test reports.
- Certifications commonly checked: CE, FDA, REACH, food-contact, flame-retardant; plus sample-to-bulk consistency, third-party inspection and payment terms (L/C or T/T split).
- Take physical samples or a stamped quotation sheet where possible.
- Use WeChat/WhatsApp rather than relying on paper business cards, and tag each chat with booth number and SKU. Keep a paper notebook as backup. Sort notes each evening.

On negotiation, the evidence is opinion, not measured data:

- One 140th-edition trade analysis says fair quotes often carry a 20% or more negotiating margin versus domestic wholesale listings and suggests testing with small first batches of 100-300 units (not confirmed).
- Exhibitors generally accept trial orders and custom samples, but unit prices for small batches are higher to cover setup and sampling.
- Avoid fixing prices verbally on the spot; confirm in writing after the supplier has checked costs.
- Buying direct from a factory instead of through a domestic trader is estimated to remove 5-15% in markups. That said, buyers on Reddit point out that a trader is not automatically a scam, and traders can suit low-volume or exploratory orders.
- One trade worker commented that they give foreign clients stricter terms than domestic clients, citing higher risk. Expect to be asked for firmer payment terms as a first-time overseas buyer.
- Line up at least 2 alternative factories for each core SKU to protect against peak-season disruption.

### Phase-specific checks

- **P2 home and furniture:** major European/US home buyers are reported to require GRS certification, carbon-footprint tracking and recycled-content ratios before contract. Approved first samples do not guarantee mass production; write tolerance limits and remake remedies into the contract. For windows, one supplier advises checking whole-window certification, not a glass-only report (marketing, low).
- **P3 apparel and textiles:** verify sizing standard (US/EU/Asian), fabric composition, shrinkage, colourfastness, and take physical swatch cards.
- **P3 food, supplements and medical devices:** check destination-market registration, quarantine and labelling rules; medical devices need the relevant FDA/CE market access.
- **Machinery and vehicles** (mainly Phase 1, but relevant if you also buy spare parts): contract for spare-parts supply and warranty timelines.

## 3. Follow-up windows after you leave the booth

- **24-48 hours:** foreign buyers rarely order on the spot; decisions usually come 24-48 hours after a meeting, once structured quotes, sample tracking and factory-audit scheduling are in hand.
- **48 hours:** send follow-up emails to priority suppliers within 48 hours, quoting specific booth discussion details. One supplier-side playbook describes day 1 quote, day 3 spec update and day 7 audit follow-up.
- **About 30 days:** the month after the fair is when buyers review cards, request updated quotations and start prototypes.
- **Sampling speed:** some electronics makers report sampling cycles cut from 15 days to 3-5 days. Do not assume this for every category.
- **Factory visits after Phase 3:** on Reddit, one commenter suggested a visit a week after the fair may be more realistic than squeezing it into day five, depending on the supplier. Confirm before booking onward travel.
- **Large orders bring hidden requirements:** extended credit terms, audits, third-party lab tests and several prototype rounds. Agree payment terms, audit scope and sample schedule up front.

## 4. Vetting a factory

Short version: check the registry, see the workshop, match the names, seal the samples.

- **Registry first.** In one reported case, a website claimed a 30,000 m2 base, but the company registry showed a 1-year-old company registered at an office with 2 insured staff.
- **Showroom is not proof.** In Foshan, trading companies posing as factories are reported to be common; ask to see the workshop with work in progress, equipment running and job cards. Large brands may only show a showroom; smaller firms may let you see real lines and meet the responsible manager.
- **What auditing buyers look at:** whether machines are running, workers are at stations and where raw materials are stored, more than cleanliness (single exhibitor's opinion).
- **Certificates:** buyers look up BSCI/FSC certificate numbers online during the visit.
- **Appliances:** buyers are reported to confirm source-factory status before quality and to insist on live plug-in testing in the showroom.
- **Seal samples:** match each quoted material to a physical sample, label it, have both sides sign and photograph it. A refusal to sign is itself a warning sign.
- **Hardware:** ask for the exact brand and series of hinges, slides and handles, and check original packaging numbers.
- **Packaging:** export wooden packaging needs a heat-treatment mark or goods may be held at the destination port.
- **Proxy checks:** one sourcing guide reports a proxy factory check takes 1-2 hours, with the report split into seen, claimed verbally, and could not verify.

Factory-visit logistics (distances, car and interpreter rates, appointment rules) are in the [factory visits and wholesale markets chapter](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/factory-visits-markets).

## 5. Payment and deposit risk

What the evidence supports:

- Pay only an account in the same company name that appears on the licence, signboard, card and quotation. Payments to a sole trader, third party or offshore account are a red flag.
- After the fair, treat any "our bank details have changed" email as suspect. Verify by phone or on your original WhatsApp/WeChat thread before wiring.
- Be wary of buyers or brokers who demand advance "certification", "audit" or "sample testing" fees, or a third-party "import licence", before signing.
- Payment terms seen in practice include L/C and split T/T. Agree these before samples, together with audit scope and testing.
- If your goods ship under a third party's export licence (see section 7), payment cannot go directly to the declaring company.
- Sourcing agents are paid in different ways: one agent site lists 5-8% of factory price as typical, 3-5% for large orders and 8-10% for complex ones, or a fixed fee for a scoped project (not confirmed). Do not compare an agent's day rate with a full procurement commission.

Not found: a reliable, sourced figure for typical deposit percentages at this fair. Ask each supplier for its terms in writing.

## 6. Samples: carrying, storing and shipping

### Carrying samples yourself

- **Power banks:** carry-on only; 100Wh or less allowed; 100-160Wh needs airline approval; maximum 2 per passenger; banks without a clear 3C/CCC mark or from recalled batches are banned on Chinese domestic flights from 28 June 2025. A 140th-edition traveller tip says keep power banks under 20,000 mAh (not confirmed); the airline rule is written in Wh, so check the Wh figure printed on the bank.
- Power-bank rental kiosks inside the halls are reported to run empty at peak times.
- Batteries, liquids, food, quota textiles and branded or IP goods are restricted for express and need care in luggage (not confirmed).
- **Customs:** commercial goods or samples are items to declare; use the red channel and ask the desk if unsure (not confirmed).
- A Reddit thread on what to bring suggests carry-on size luggage and a wheeled case, because brochures get heavy.

### Storing samples

- Some hotels serving fair buyers store luggage and samples at the bell desk, including for a colleague to collect later with written authorisation and ID, for up to 7 days; free early-arrival storage is also advertised (hotel marketing; confirm with your hotel).
- The official Phase 1 guide lists luggage storage and post services on site. Whether these continue in Phase 2/3, and where, is not confirmed.

### Shipping from the fair

- On-site packing and shipping of luggage and samples is reported for Pazhou Port and SF Express (prices not stated).
- Counter locations seen in the spring 2026 edition (139th, comment-level evidence): SF at Area B 11-2 and outside Area C hall 15.1; JD at Area A promenade counter 4-5; China Post at counter 1-5. Recheck on the current map.
- A forwarder page lists DHL, UPS, EMS, FedEx and China Post packets for mailing samples at the fair (not confirmed).
- Book through the carrier's own website or counter so you keep a complaint channel. One author's official online order did not result in collection from the booth, so confirm pickup by phone.
- One author alleged a logistics intermediary in Area B misrepresented its courier affiliation and charged more than agreed without an itemised bill; another commenter alleged an overcharge of more than CNY 5,000. Both are unverified, but the lesson holds: get an itemised quote in writing first.
- Wholesale market stalls generally do not accept returns, and purchases can be sent by courier from downstairs.

### Published express rate datapoints

These are forwarder or carrier figures, mostly discounted or marketing rates. Use them to sense-check a quote, not as a tariff.

| Lane / item | What the source reports | Date of source | Type |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| China to UK, 5 kg | DHL, FedEx IP and UPS figures | 2025-12-04 | forwarder |
| China to Germany, 5 kg | DHL and FedEx figures | 2025-12-04 | forwarder |
| China to UAE, 5 kg | DHL, FedEx and Aramex figures | 2025-12-04 | forwarder |
| China (HK) to UAE, per kg | DHL, FedEx and UPS per-kg ranges | 2026-04-21 | forwarder |
| China to Nigeria, per kg | DHL and EMS figures | undated (not confirmed) | forwarder |
| DHL surcharges (Pakistan guide) | remote area per kg with a minimum charge; oversize; clearance per shipment; permits | 2025-12-13 | carrier |
| SF International Standard | charged on greater of actual or volumetric weight, divisor 5000 | undated | carrier |

Transit time ranges from China (business days, customs delays excluded): DHL/FedEx 2-5, UPS 3-6, Aramex/SF 3-7, EMS 5-10, China Post e-Packet 7-15.

Samples of no commercial value ship on a proforma invoice under DHL's rules.

No India or Pakistan outbound lane rate from China was found.

Consumer reference for bulky goods: a Singapore homeowner's furniture purchase reportedly cost substantially more once sea freight, consolidation and import tax were added, and furniture took 3-5 weeks to arrive. This is a household case, not a trade benchmark.

### DDP options

DDP ("delivered duty paid") lines advertised around the fair:

- A Dongguan forwarder advertises a Turkey DDP sample line: double clearance, duties included, flat price, air or sea, pickup at the fair complex. No price published.
- A Shenzhen forwarder advertises same-day pickup with duties and customs included and door delivery, and says space is tight in fair season. No price.
- A China-to-Russia door-to-door service by rail, road and TIR is advertised.

All three are marketing claims. Many double-clearance DDP channels declare under a fixed declarant name and cannot declare under your own company.

## 7. Export clearance: 买单报关 vs 单证报关, explained for a buyer

When your supplier or forwarder says your goods will be declared one of two ways, this is what it means (forwarder explainer):

| | 单证报关 (formal declaration, own name) | 买单报关 ("buying a licence") |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who declares | The exporter, under its own company name and export licence | A third party's licence |
| Suits | VAT export rebate, company FX receipts, regular shipments | Sellers without export rights, sample orders, small one-off shipments, no rebate needed |
| Risks for you | Needs full documents and licence | No rebate; payment cannot go directly to the declaring company; inspections need the third party's cooperation; batteries, dangerous goods and counterfeit brands must not be hidden in such declarations |

The China-side declaration type does not change how your goods clear at destination.

Before you ship, confirm 3 things: whether a tax rebate is needed, whether the channel can declare in the exporter's own name, and whether the goods need a special licence.

### "1039" market procurement (wholesale-market exports)

Guangzhou's "1039 Market Procurement Trade" scheme lets mixed-item shipments from designated markets clear under a simplified declaration, with VAT exemption without purchase invoices, for shipments under a set value ceiling per shipment. Designated markets mentioned include Buyun Tiandi shoe centre, Dongwang food market (pre-packaged food only), the Beauty Exchange Center for cosmetics and Liuhua garment market. On-site consolidation desks support LCL export. Most of these descriptions come from market marketing, so confirm eligibility with the market's own export desk.

### Export controls

MOFCOM export control notices Nos. 49-52 (announced Oct 19, 2026, effective Nov 18) cover certain drones, tunnelling machines, dredgers and superhard materials (not confirmed). Check before contracting in those categories.

## 8. Scams and red flags

### Badge and entry scams

- The overseas buyer badge is free to issue, replace or renew.
- The fair has never authorised third parties to process visas or buyer badges; "guaranteed visa" or "direct ticket purchase" offers are scams. Do not trust people offering to "arrange badges".
- There are no public tickets. "Paid internal work passes" or "escorted walk-ins" are scalper scams that can lead to badge confiscation and blacklisting via face-recognition gates.
- A buyer and companion must have a genuine relationship; fake applications mean both badges are confiscated and both people blacklisted, with no refund. Borrowing or renting badges is reported to risk a blacklist.
- Seen in the market: an intermediary companion-badge fee of about CNY 1,000 mentioned in a video caption, and a comment offering "assistant sponsorship" for 700 and "translator sponsorship" for 300 (currency not stated) on specific Phase 2/3 dates. Neither is an endorsed route.

### Touts in lobbies and outside the halls

- Aggressive sales agents reportedly wait in the Westin and Shangri-La lobby lounges, or hold "Free Translator" signs outside the complex to get into buyer WeChat groups.
- Unregistered suppliers and brokers sometimes enter as "translators" or "purchasing assistants" of foreign buyers and try to divert buyers in rest areas or outside competitors' booths.
- "Free tour guide" or "free translator" offers on the street can lead to unlicensed workshops or brokers paid on kickback.
- After closing, people at exits hand out cards and collect foreigners' contacts, often hired promoters with quotas.
- Beware strangers offering large currency exchanges.
- On closing night, discarded business cards and inquiry forms are reportedly collected from booth bins; shred or take away your price sheets and contact lists.

### Fake factories

- Trading companies posing as factories: see section 4.
- Be cautious of any "factory" that will not sign sealed samples.
- A Reddit post alleging widespread factory kickbacks came from someone selling their own QC service; it is a marketing claim, not established fact.

### Price gouging and transport

- Guangzhou taxis must use the meter; the passenger pays expressway tolls. Do not agree a flat fare. Complaints: 12345.
- One visitor (spring edition) was quoted CNY 150 near Gate 3 for a ride they expected to cost CNY 20, at an unofficial pickup spot. Police report a crackdown on ride touting around the venue.
- A commenter warns of food-order scams via flyers.
- Anyone charging to book hotels or tickets, arrange vehicles or run day tours is doing travel-agency business under the Tourism Law; unlicensed operators face CNY 10,000-100,000 fines. A licensed charter should show a road transport permit, vehicle operating licence, qualified driver and carrier liability insurance, and the contract should state plate, hours/km, overtime, tolls/parking and driver meals.

### Interpreters

- Commenters recommend a written interpretation agreement and an advance deposit, and say team bookings usually need a deposit to protect against mid-job cancellation.
- Official accompanying badges: a buyer can add 1 assistant and 1 interpreter per phase, at CNY 300/day plus CNY 50 card fee, applied online by the buyer at least 2 days ahead; interpreters upload CATTI/NAETI or language-degree proof (secondhand summaries of the rules; confirm on the official system). Holders of Chinese passports or HK/Macao/Taiwan permits can sponsor an assistant but not an interpreter.

## Do / Don't

**Do**

- Map categories to hall numbers before you arrive.
- Record booth number, contact and WhatsApp/WeChat at every stand.
- Follow up within 48 hours.
- Check the registry and the 5-name match before paying.
- Sign and photograph sealed samples.
- Book shipping directly with the carrier and get an itemised quote.
- Declare commercial samples.
- Phone-verify any change in bank details.

**Don't**

- Don't pay anyone for a badge, an "internal pass" or a walk-in.
- Don't accept "free translation" or "free guide" offers from strangers.
- Don't pay advance "certification", "audit" or "licence" fees to unknown brokers.
- Don't agree flat taxi fares or use unlicensed cars.
- Don't put a power bank in checked luggage.
- Don't throw price sheets or contact lists in booth bins on the last day.

## Buyer checklist

**Before the fair**

- ☐ Hall numbers for my categories in my phase
- ☐ Shortlist with booth numbers and contacts
- ☐ Interpreter badge applied at least 2 days ahead, if needed
- ☐ Target price, quantity, destination port and timeline written down

**At the booth**

- ☐ Photo of booth number, then product
- ☐ MOQ, lead time, certifications, carton/CBM, FOB price
- ☐ Stamped quotation or sample
- ☐ Chat tagged with booth and SKU

**After each day**

- ☐ Notes sorted at hotel
- ☐ Samples labelled with reference numbers

**Before paying or shipping**

- ☐ Registry check and 5-name match
- ☐ Sealed samples signed and photographed
- ☐ Payment terms in writing
- ☐ Declaration type agreed (单证 or 买单) and the 3 checks done
- ☐ Carry-on power banks within Wh limits, 3C marked

## Still to confirm

- Deposit percentages: no sourced typical figure found. Ask in writing.
- On-site express counters for Phase 2/3: only Phase 1 official services and spring-edition comments exist. Check the current venue map on arrival.
- Express rates: all datapoints are forwarder or carrier guide figures, 2025-12 to 2026-04 or undated. No India or Pakistan outbound lane found.
- Power bank: 20,000 mAh tip versus Wh-based airline rule. The airline rule governs.
- Interpreter badge fee CNY 300/day + 50 comes from secondhand summaries, not an inspected official page.
- 1039 scheme details (the per-shipment value ceiling, VAT exemption) come mostly from market marketing; confirm per market.
- Negotiating margin "20%+" and trader markup "5-15%" are single-source estimates.
- Export control notices need checking on MOFCOM.

## Official sources

- [Phase 2 Area A: Festival 1.1/6.1/6.0; General Ceramics 2.1/3.1/4.1/5.1/5.1Y; Gardening 6.1/7.1/8.1/8.0; Kitchenware 1.2–5.2 plus 1.1Y–4.1...](https://365.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/exhibition-hall-map?phase=second)
- [Phase 3 A: Kids clothing 1.1/1.1Y; mens/womens 1.1/2.1/3.1/4.1/5.1/2.1Y; sports/casual clothing 6.1/7.1/1.1Y; underwear 8.1/3.1Y; shoes 1...](https://365.cantonfair.org.cn/zh-CN/exhibition-hall-map?phase=third)
- [Official Phase 1 guide lists luggage storage, meditation room, first aid/AED, bank/ATM, photocopy/business-card printing, post and air/tra...](https://cdn.cantonfair.org.cn/appFiles/2026/10/09/6f1e7fd424404dacb0713430ecdd1bce.pdf)
- [Phase 2 B: Bathroom 9.1/10.1/11.1; Building/Decoration 11.2/12.1/12.2/13.1/13.2; Furniture 9.3/10.2/10.3/11.3; Prefab houses 9.0/12.0/13....](https://365.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/exhibition-hall-map?phase=second)
- [Phase 2 C: Glass Artware 14.1/14.2/15.1/15.2; Household Items 14.3/14.4/15.2/15.3/15.4/16.2/16.3/16.4. D: Home Decorations 17.1–20.1; clo...](https://365.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/exhibition-hall-map?phase=second)
- [Phase 3 D: Toys 17.1/18.1/19.1; maternity/baby 20.1; bags/cases 17.2–20.2; Smart Healthcare Friendship Hall 21.2. C: home textiles 14.1/1...](https://365.cantonfair.org.cn/zh-CN/exhibition-hall-map?phase=third)
- [Phase 3 B: pets and bathroom each 9.1; personal care 10.1/11.1; sports/travel 11.1/12.1/13.1 plus outdoor 9.0/12.0/13.0; medical/health 9...](https://365.cantonfair.org.cn/zh-CN/exhibition-hall-map?phase=third)
- [140th retains Phase 2 Fashion Jewelry and Phase 3 Smart Healthcare sections; app offers booth navigation, AI notes, ASKME, appointment/pl...](https://sg.mofcom.gov.cn/scxx/zyzh/art/2026/art_58976017894e4b4ca7df4075fb9960ef.html)
- [Guangzhou taxis must use meter; passenger pays applicable expressway tolls. Do not negotiate fare. Complaint hotline 12345; taxi operator...](https://news.dayoo.com/guangzhou/202610/13/139995_55012239.htm)

## More from this guide

- [The 140th Canton Fair at a glance: Phase 2, Phase 3 and the gap days](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/fair-at-a-glance) — Phase 2 (Oct 23-27) and Phase 3 (Oct 31-Nov 4): which products are in which Area, opening hours, and what is still not confirmed.
- [Badge, entry and security](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/badge-entry-security) — how to get the free overseas buyer badge, where to collect it, companion badges for assistants and interpreters, and what the entry gates check.
- [Getting there: airport, rail, Hong Kong and the last mile to Pazhou](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/getting-there) — getting to Pazhou from Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou South, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, which metro exit to use for each Area, and taxi and DiDi tips.
- [Around the complex: moving between halls, crowds and day planning](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/around-the-complex) — how the four Areas connect, when the crowds peak, where to rest and eat, and how to plan a day at the complex.
- [Where to stay: areas, prices, rules and booking tactics](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/where-to-stay) — which neighbourhoods to stay in, what hotels charged during the fair, hotel shuttles, police registration and how to book.
- [Food at the fair: halal, vegetarian and South Asian options](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/food-halal-vegetarian) — food courts in each Area, halal-marked outlets, vegetarian and South Asian options nearby, and the rule on delivered food.
- [Money, phone, apps, visa and entry](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/money-phone-visa) — paying with foreign cards and wallet apps, cash and exchange, SIM and eSIM, useful apps, and visa and entry checks.
- [On-site services, interpreters and assistants](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/services-interpreters) — on-site services at the fair, hiring an interpreter or assistant, the companion badge, and the touts to ignore.
- [Factory visits by cluster and Guangzhou wholesale markets](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/factory-visits-markets) — factory clusters you can reach from Guangzhou, how to arrange a visit, and the main wholesale markets.
- [Gap days (Oct 28-30) and after the fair](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/gap-days-after-the-fair) — what to do on Oct 28-30 while the halls are closed, day trips from Pazhou, and onward travel after the fair.
- [Ready-to-use itineraries for Phase 2 and Phase 3](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/itineraries-phase-2-3) — ready-made day-by-day plans for Phase 2 and Phase 3 buyers, including the gap days.
- [What the maps, signs and portal screenshots show](https://unclepandatravel.com/fairs/canton-fair-2026-autumn/maps-signs-screenshots) — gates, metro exits and signs by Area, halal-marked outlets and hotel shuttles, as shown on maps and screenshots shared online.

## Private trips around the fair

Add a few days of travel before or after 2026 Autumn Canton Fair (140th): a private car, a driver-guide and a written plan.

- **[Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai in 14 Days: Three Cities of Chinese Culture](https://unclepandatravel.com/tours/beijing-xian-shanghai-14d)** — 14D13N, from ¥12,245 per person, based on 6 guests, twin share. Gentle day ≤6k steps, longest drive about 4 hours.
- **[Guangzhou One-Day City Tour: Xiguan Old Lanes, Shamian Island, Canton Tower & Pearl River Night Cruise](https://unclepandatravel.com/tours/guangzhou-1d)** — 1D0N, from ¥646 per person, based on 6 guests, twin share. Gentle day ≤6k steps, longest drive about 4 hours.

For quick facts, the AI assistant is fastest. For your own plans (hotel, transport, travel before or after the fair), message a travel designer.

---

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