Attending the Canton Fair for the first time can be exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming, especially if you plan to purchase building materials. From visa and hotel bookings to payments, transportation, and exhibition itinerary planning, there are many things to consider before you go.
I’ll guide you through the key preparations, what to expect in Guangzhou, and how to make your exhibition trip easier and more efficient.
Table of Contents
Before You Fly: What You Should Prepare in Advance
Before your first Canton Fair trip, a little preparation can save you a lot of trouble later.
Start with the basics: make sure your passport and visa are ready. Then book your flight and hotel early, because Guangzhou gets busy during the fair, and good hotel options can go fast.
Hotel Suggestions for First-Time Canton Fair Visitors:
3-Start Hotel:
Ibis Guangzhou International Exhibition Center Hotel
Address: No. 9 Xinhai Street, Xinjiao Middle Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510310, China.
Holiday Inn Express Guangzhou Panyu
Address: No. 357, Yushan West Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511400, China.
Pazhou Conference Hotel Guangzhou
Address: 6-10 Xingang Road East, Guangzhou, China.
Pazhou Hotel-Canton Fair Free Shuttle Bus
Address: 37 Xinggang Road East, Guangzhou, China.
Pazhou Laiste International ApartHotel Canton Fair Complex Branch
Address: Floor 1 Lobby, Building 3A, Pazhou Village, No. 11 Zhanjue Street, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China.
4-Start Hotel:
Holiday Inn Guangzhou South Lake
Address: No. 320 Tonghe Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Hilton Garden Inn Guangzhou Tianhe
Address: No. 63 North Guangzhou Ave, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510500, China.
Holiday Inn Express Guangzhou Panyu Dashi
Address: No. 29, Xinzhi Road, Dashi Street, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510500, China.
Mercure Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Center
Address: No. 365 Tianhebei Road, Guangzhou 510620, China.
Mercure Guangzhou Yuexiu Beijing Road
Address: 182 Beijing Road, Guangzhou 510030, China.
5-Start Hotel:
The Westin Pazhou
Address: Area C, Canton Fair Complex, 681 Fengpu Zhong Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510335, China.
Langham Place, Guangzhou
Address: 638 Xingang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510335, China.
Shangri-La Guangzhou
Address: 1 Hui Zhan Dong Road, Hai Zhu District, Guangzhou 510308, China.
Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe
Address: No. 215 Linhe Xi Heng Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou 510500, China.
W Guangzhou
Address: 26 Xian Cun Road, Pearl River New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, China.
In China, it’s practically a cashless society, with mobile payments used in many places. Therefore, I suggest that in addition to preparing some cash in advance for emergencies, you also install Alipay on your phone.
How to set up and use Alipay as a foreigner in China
Take a few minutes to set up some useful applications, such as WeChat, map software, and translation apps. You should also ensure your phone has roaming, eSIM, or mobile data activated for easier navigation upon arrival.
The Canton Fair is massive. If you arrive without a clear checklist, you could easily spend an entire day collecting brochures and taking photos, only to feel like you’ve gained nothing.
Most importantly, prepare a clear list of your needs. Be specific about what you require, such as cabinets, windows, tiles, bathroom fixtures, lighting, or furniture. If you already have floor plans, design drawings, or reference images, save them to your phone or tablet. This will make communication with suppliers easier and more efficient.
What It’s Like After You Land in Guangzhou
For many first-time visitors, the biggest worries after landing are usually very simple: How do I get to my hotel? What if I cannot speak Chinese? What am I going to eat?
The good news is that Guangzhou is much easier to handle once you know a few basics.
Getting around: metro first, taxi second
If you are going to the Canton Fair, the metro is often the easiest option. The fair complex is on Metro Line 8. Xingangdong Station is convenient for Area A, while Pazhou Station is convenient for Areas B and C. That means if your hotel is on a metro line, your daily trip can be much smoother.
If you are arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, you can take the metro toward the city and then connect to the fair area, or you can take a taxi if you have heavy luggage.
For many first-time buyers, I usually think like this: use a taxi from the airport on day one, then use the metro during the fair. It is simpler when you are tired and carrying bags. The Canton Fair official city guide also points visitors to Line 8 for reaching the complex.
If you do not want to flag taxis on the street, you can also use DiDi, which is one of the main ride-hailing platforms in China and has an international-facing app site.
Language: do not try to speak perfect Chinese
At the fair, many suppliers can communicate in basic or business English. The bigger issue usually happens outside the fair: taxi rides, convenience stores, small restaurants, and everyday moments in the city.
Before you arrive, I suggest having:
1.a translation app on your phone
2.your hotel address saved as a screenshot
3.key supplier names and booth numbers saved
If you want to ask for food, show a photo.
If you want to go somewhere, show the address.
If you want to discuss products, open your drawings.
That is usually enough.
Food: keep it simple, especially on your first two days
Food is usually less of a problem than people expect. Guangzhou is a major food city, and even older city guides describe it as a place famous for Cantonese cuisine.
On fair days, I would keep it practical:
1.eat breakfast at the hotel if possible
2.have lunch inside the fair or near the exhibition area
3.choose simple meals at first instead of searching for something special
4.carry water and a small snack in your bag
There is one more helpful detail: during Canton Fair periods, Guangzhou has also added overseas bank card POS support at some metro stations, which shows the city is actively trying to make transport easier for international visitors.
How to Stay Comfortable During the Fair
In April, Guangzhou is usually warm, humid, and sometimes rainy. Average daytime temperatures are around 25.7–26°C (78–79°F), nights are around 19–19.5°C (66–67°F), and humidity is high, often around 84%. Rain is also common in April, so the weather can feel a little sticky, especially after a long day of walking.
Because of that, I suggest wearing light, breathable clothes. A simple T-shirt, polo shirt, light shirt, or thin blouse usually works well. For bottoms, light pants or other breathable fabrics are often more comfortable than heavy jeans. It is also smart to bring a light jacket or thin outer layer for early morning, strong indoor air conditioning, or light rain.
For shoes, my advice is very simple: choose comfortable walking shoes. You will spend hours on your feet, so this is not the time for hard leather shoes or anything new that may rub your feet. If rain is possible, shoes that can handle a little water are better than canvas shoes that stay wet for hours.
Also, don’t plan too much in one day. Instead of trying to see all the booths, focus on one or two product categories, visit your main suppliers first, and allow some time for rest.
Where to Find Building Materials at Canton Fair
If you’re coming to the Canton Fair to source building materials, the most important thing is to visit Phase II. The 139th Spring Canton Fair Phase II will be held from April 23rd to 27th, 2026.
Official exhibit categories include building and decoration materials, bathroom fixtures, furniture, stone/wrought iron decorations, and outdoor spa equipment.
The exhibition hall is divided into different areas and exhibition halls. Buyers sourcing building materials should focus on the building and furniture exhibition area. The venue is located at 382 Yuejiang Middle Road, Guangzhou.
If you’re taking the subway, Line 8 is the most convenient route. Generally, Pazhou Station is closer to Areas B and C, making it very convenient if your main purpose is to visit the building materials exhibition area.
George Group Booth
If your project involves cabinetry, doors and windows, bathroom fixtures, furniture, or other home improvement materials, we recommend spending most of your time in the building materials section of Zone B. You can also add George Intl’s booth to your itinerary. Our booth is located in Zone B:
Hall 11.2 — Cabinet Booth
Hall 11.3 — Doors and Windows Booth
This allows you to more easily compare products in the same area and communicate with the same team about all aspects of your project. This can save many first-time homebuyers time and effort.
What First-Time Buyers Often Forget to Ask
It’s normal for many first-time building material buyers to start by asking about price. However, price is only one aspect of building material procurement.
The products at the booth may look appealing, but before making a decision, you should ask some more important questions.
First, inquire about customization services
Can the supplier adjust the size, color, finish, or design to suit your project? This is crucial if you are building a villa, apartment, or other custom-built home.
Second, inquire about minimum order quantities and lead times
Some products may seem perfect, but the minimum order quantity might be higher than you expect, or the production cycle might exceed your project schedule.
Third, inquire about shipping and project support
Can the supplier assist with shipping arrangements? Can they construct according to your floor plans or drawings? If your project requires a whole-house solution, can they offer a variety of product categories?
It’s also wise to ask about their past project experience. Have they worked on residential, apartment, hotel, or other similar projects before? Suppliers with project experience usually have a better understanding of the details and communicate more clearly.
Why Canton Fair Alone May Not Be Enough for a Building Materials Project
For first-time building material buyers, the Canton Fair is an excellent starting point. Here, you can see a wide variety of products, compare different suppliers, and quickly gain a market overview.
However, for building material projects, especially whole-house projects, the fair is often just the first step.
If you need multiple product categories, such as cabinets, doors and windows, stairs, tiles, bathroom fixtures, lighting, and furniture, a fair alone is unlikely to cover everything. You may still want to compare different materials, examine finishes more closely, discuss your floor plans, and understand how different products can be combined in a project.
Therefore, many buyers don’t stop at the showroom. After the fair, they continue with in-depth supplier visits to further explore their sourcing needs.
For buyers who want to learn more details, George Intl’s showroom is located in Foshan, just an hour’s drive from the convention center, making it easily accessible after the Canton Fair.
We also welcome buyers to visit our 20,000+ square meter showroom to continue discussions, where you can view more product options, compare styles more easily, and discuss your project details in a more calm and pragmatic manner.
Why Many Buyers Add George Intl to Their China Visit
After visiting the Canton Fair, many buyers begin to notice a common problem: finding the right products is one thing, but integrating the entire project is quite another.
At the fair, you might see cabinets at one booth, windows at another, tiles, lighting, or furniture elsewhere. But once you start thinking about your actual project, a host of questions arise. Are all these products style-coordinated?
Do the dimensions match your drawings? Who will coordinate everything? And how will you consolidate all the products for shipping?
This is why many buyers choose to include George Intl in their China trip.
Instead of contacting each supplier individually, you can maintain ongoing communication with a team knowledgeable in all home building materials. If you already have floor plans, inspiration images, or a product list, we can sit down together and discuss the details more clearly.
Another huge advantage is shipping. If you source from many different suppliers, it usually takes extra time to manage different contacts, different schedules, and different shipping arrangements. Furthermore, you need to figure out how to consolidate all the goods before shipment. This process can quickly become exhausting.
Through George intl, we can consolidate different materials together and pack them into a single container. This greatly simplifies the procurement process and makes management easier. It makes your journey more efficient and is a more convenient way to advance the entire project.
In The End
In short, the Canton Fair helps you discover a variety of possibilities. If you want to transition from exhibiting to making actual decisions, further visits to suppliers will be very beneficial.
Since George intl’s showroom in Foshan is very close to Guangzhou, you can easily visit it after the fair. There, you can explore more products, discuss your projects in more detail, and learn how different materials can work together better.
FAQs
If you want to purchase building materials, you should mainly focus on the second phase. This phase mainly showcases cabinets, doors and windows, bathroom fixtures, furniture, and other home-related products.
Not necessarily. The Canton Fair is a great place to discover products and meet suppliers, but for whole-house projects, many buyers still need more in-depth negotiations, visits to showrooms, and more detailed product matching after the fair.
Before departure, it’s best to prepare your passport, visa, airfare, hotel, payment apps, data allowance, and a clear product list. If you already have floor plans or architectural drawings, please bring them as well.
You can take the subway, taxis, or ride-hailing services like Didi. It’s recommended that you save your hotel address and important location information in Chinese on your phone. Translation apps can also make daily communication easier.
It’s best to prepare multiple payment methods. I recommend preparing Alipay, international bank cards, and some cash for greater convenience and flexibility in your daily payments.
Start with your main product categories, prioritize visiting the most important booths, and take brief notes after each meeting with suppliers. This will help you compare suppliers more clearly later.
George Group’s booth is located in Area B, the Building Materials Zone.
Hall 11.2 (Kitchen Cabinet Zone)
Hall 11.3 (Doors and Windows Zone)
Many buyers visit George Group after the Canton Fair because our showroom in Foshan is close to Guangzhou, making it convenient for them to continue their journey. It’s a more convenient place to discuss project details, compare materials, and find more complete solutions.
Yes. George can assist in consolidating different building materials into a single container for shipment, eliminating the need to contact multiple factories or arrange cargo distribution yourself.
Yes, especially if your project involves multiple product categories. Foshan is a major sourcing city for building materials and furniture, and many buyers visit Foshan after the Canton Fair.
