CINAITA JournalChina business and sourcing
Canton Fair or Yiwu: choosing a sourcing trip
Trade fairs, permanent markets and factory visits serve different needs. Use your products, buying stage and available time to choose Guangzhou, Yiwu or a combined trip.
- Canton Fair phases: choose categories before dates
- 3
- Year of the fair dates cited; check 2027 separately
- 2026
- Product brief shared across fair, market and factory visits
- 1
For a first buying trip to China, should you choose Canton Fair or Yiwu? It depends on the next step: meet suppliers, fill a category, review samples or discuss production. A clear brief makes it easier to judge what each destination offers and how to order the visits.
Three visit types and what each helps you do
This compares planning approaches. Production, quality and delivery capabilities still require separate checks.
| Visit type | How to use it | Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Canton Fair | Useful for comparing relevant exhibitors and collecting product and contact information during the fair. Match the phase to your categories rather than choosing any day in the overall period. | Prepare categories, phases, halls and appointments. |
| Yiwu markets | Useful for comparing traders in specific small-goods categories and discussing samples. The permanent market and Yiwu Fair are separate; a market visit is not tied to fair dates. | Prepare categories, districts, trader locations and sample references. |
| Company and factory visits | Useful for discussing a specific product, drawing or process in depth. Confirm the host, location and accessible areas; a market trader’s address is not necessarily a production address. | Prepare host agreement, agenda, technical files and confidentiality scope. |
References MOFCOM New York: spring 2026 phasesYiwu Fair: market districts
Canton Fair 2026: match phases to categories
These are the published phases for the spring and autumn 2026 editions. Changeover days are not visiting days. At this check, no official 2027 phase calendar has been recorded here, and 2026 dates are not carried forward.
| Phase and focus | Published 2026 dates | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: industry and electronics | Spring 15–19 April; autumn 15–19 October. Then check the edition’s halls for electronics, machinery, vehicles, lighting or hardware. | Do not assume machinery and home-goods meetings share the same phase. |
| Phase 2: home and gifts | Spring 23–27 April; autumn 23–27 October. Start with the relevant areas for housewares, decoration, gifts, building materials and furniture. | A reference with use and material is more specific than a broad category. |
| Phase 3: apparel and consumer goods | Spring 1–5 May; autumn 31 October–4 November. Check subcategories for clothing, textiles, footwear, bags, toys, stationery and related goods. | For mixed categories, decide whether crossing phases is necessary. |
References MOFCOM New York: spring 2026 phasesMOFCOM · Official information for the 140th Canton FairMOFCOM · Spring 2026 Canton Fair phases and sectors
Choose Yiwu categories rather than trying to see everything
Official market information helps narrow the search. Confirm individual traders and visiting arrangements separately.
Toys, accessories and gifts
District 1’s official categories include toys, accessories and craft gifts. Share product images, uses and materials so the route focuses on comparable candidates.
Hardware, bags and electronics
District 2 includes these categories in the official information. Define specifications, packing, quantities and sample needs before visiting.
Samples and trader records
Record the seller, stall, contact, model, quotation date and packing requirements for each sample. Photograph the reference code with the item and retain specification revisions so photos, quotations and physical samples still match after the trip.
References International Trade Mart: District 1International Trade Mart: District 2
When combining Guangzhou and Yiwu makes sense
This is a working sequence rather than a fixed-duration package. Transport and meetings depend on actual confirmations.
Build a shortlist at the fair
Use the same questions and sample requests in the chosen halls. At the end of each day separate follow-up contacts, missing documents and candidates you will not pursue.
Use the market for the remaining brief
If accessories, packaging or small-goods categories remain, choose specific Yiwu districts. Avoid repeating work already completed in Guangzhou just to add another city.
Reserve factory visits for clear questions
Arrange deeper visits for relevant candidates, confirming the host and accessible production stages. Leave time to organise samples and review technical findings; assign an owner to each open action before departure, beyond collecting business cards.
One brief for buyers and interpreters
A specific brief reduces repeated explanations and makes answers easier to compare.
Products and quantities
Images or drawings, materials, dimensions, uses, indicative quantities and current samples. Separate essential requirements from negotiable options.
Commercial questions
Ask separately about minimum quantities, quotation terms, timing, packing, samples and documents. Keep original terms and units; the buyer confirms amounts and agreements.
Visits and follow-up support
We can coordinate fair applications, contacts, interpreting, transport and sample handovers for the project. Testing, contracts, payments and import compliance require the appropriate specialists.
Practical questions
Are Yiwu market and Yiwu Fair the same thing?
No. The market is a permanent trading venue, while Yiwu Fair has specific dates. Plan them separately by category and check market and trader opening arrangements.
Should I visit both cities if I only have one week?
Not necessarily. Choose the destination that addresses your main buying task. Combine them only when they serve different needs and transfers leave enough time for meetings.
Does a market sample confirm a factory’s capabilities?
No. The sample, trader identity, actual manufacturer, testing and delivery conditions require separate checks. Documents and visits can help inform the purchasing decision.
Sources and updates
Policies, dates and admission arrangements can change. These are the sources checked for this article; review the relevant official pages before travel.