The Canton Fair or China Import and Export Fair, is a trade fair held in the spring and autumn seasons each year since the spring of 1957 in Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong, China.^[1] It is the oldest, largest, and the most representative trade fair in China.^[2]

Canton Fair
Detail of the structure of one of the exhibition halls in Pazhou
Simplified Chinese	中国进出口商品交易会
Traditional Chinese	中國進出口商品交易會
Literal meaning	China Import and Export Fair
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōngguó Jìnchūkǒu Shāngpǐn Jiāoyìhuì Wade–Giles Chung1-kuo2 Chin4-chʻu1-kʻou3 Shang1-pʻin3 Chiao1-yi4-hui4 Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jūng Gwok Jeun Chēut Háu Sēung Bán Gāau Yihk Wúi Jyutping Zung1 Gwok3 Zeon3 Ceot1 Hau2 Soeng1 Ban2 Gaau1 Jik6 Wui6→2
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	广交会
Traditional Chinese	廣交會
Literal meaning	Canton Fair
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guǎngjiāohuì Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Gwónggāauwúi Jyutping Gwong2 Gaau1 Wui6→2

Its full name since 2007 has been China Import and Export Fair (中国进出口商品交易会), renamed from Chinese Export Commodities Fair (中国出口商品交易会).^[3] The fair is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the provincial government of Guangdong Province and organized by China Foreign Trade Centre.^[4]

Contents

The National Pavilion (export section) of Canton Fair is sorted into 16 categories of products, which will be exhibited in 51 sections. Over 24,000 of China's best foreign trade corporations (enterprises) take part in the fair. These include private enterprises, factories, scientific research institutions, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, and foreign trade companies.

Functions

The fair leans to export trade, though import business is also done here. Apart from the above-mentioned, various types of business activities such as economic and technical cooperation and exchange, commodity inspection, insurance, transportation, advertising, and trade consultation are other activities that are also commonly carried out at the fair.

Basic facts

The 127th Canton Fair: The 2020 Fair was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5]

First held: April 1957.

Interval: Three phases per session; two sessions per year.

Spring session: April 15–19 (Phase 1); April 23–27 (Phase 2); May 1–5 (Phase 3).

Autumn session: October 15–19 (Phase 1); October 23–27 (Phase 2); October 31- November 4 (Phase 3).

Industries:

Phase 1: Electronics & Household Electrical Appliances, Lighting Equipment, Vehicles & Spare Parts, Machinery, Hardware & Tools, Energy + Resources, Chemical Products, Building Materials, International Pavilion

Phase 2: Consumer Goods, Gifts, Home Decorations

Phase 3: Office Supplies, Cases & Bags, and Recreation Products, Medical Devices and Health Products, Food, Shoes, Textiles & Garments, International Pavilion

Venue:

China Import and Export Fair (Pazhou) Complex, 380 Yuejiangzhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510335^[6]

Gross exhibition space: 1,185,000 m² (12,760,000 sq ft).

Number of booths: Over 60,400 standard stands (122nd Session).

Varieties: Over 160,000.

Business turnover: 30,160 million USD (122nd Session).

Number of trading countries and regions: 213 (122nd Session).

Number of visitors: 191,950 (122nd Session).

Exhibitors: Over 25,000 (with 24,429 Chinese exhibitors, 620 international exhibitors, 122nd Session).