First-time checklist

Weeks before

1. Check which phase matches what you buy. The three phases carry different product groups, so the wrong week is a wasted flight.
2. Pre-register, then apply for the invitation letter if you need one for the visa.
3. Book accommodation early: prices around the Complex rise for the whole Fair period, and the closed days between phases are when most buyers change hotels.
4. Decide whether to add market days. Guangzhou's wholesale markets are a different kind of sourcing from the Fair and they keep different hours.

What to bring

• Passport and the registration record used for pre-registration, since the badge is issued against it.
• Business cards: the Fair is still a card-exchange economy at the booth level.
• Your own product specifications and target prices, in writing, so suppliers quote against something comparable.

On site

• Phases are large. Pick two or three halls per day rather than walking the whole Complex.
• Note the booth number of every supplier you like. Follow-up by e-mail works only if you can name the booth.
• Ask for the quotation to state material, specification and lead time. A price without those three cannot be compared.

Practical notes are ours. The official facts above carry the organiser's links.