The Spring Session: April's Fair and who it suits

The spring session mirrors the autumn in structure, size and process. What changes with the season, who the April dates suit, and how the planning differs.

What the spring session is

The Fair runs twice a year in the same venue on the same three-phase structure. The spring session opens in mid-April: the 139th session ran Phase 1 from 15 to 19 April, Phase 2 from 23 to 27 April and Phase 3 from 1 to 5 May, with the intervals on 20 to 22 April and 28 to 30 April.

The scale matches the autumn session: a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square metres, with over 30,000 enterprises exhibiting. The spring session is not a smaller or junior version of the Fair; it is the same event four months earlier.

What is identical to the autumn session

The structure carries over unchanged: three phases of five days, the same exhibition sections per phase, the same Buyer Badge registration, the same pre-registration and invitation letter process, and the same online platform and app running alongside.

For planning purposes, the two sessions are interchangeable: the visa route, the badge registration points, the metro connection and the accommodation areas are the same. Anything learned at one session transfers to the other without adjustment.

What the season changes

The product rhythm differs. The autumn session in October is the main ordering season for goods that will ship before the year ends; the spring session in April serves the second half of the year, with more emphasis on new products for the following season and on categories that peak in the northern hemisphere summer.

The crowd differs too: the autumn session draws the largest buyer attendance of the year, while the spring session is somewhat calmer in the halls. For a buyer who wants booth time with exhibitors rather than queues at popular stands, April is the quieter room.

Who the April dates suit

Buyers on a replenishment cycle rather than a launch cycle fit the spring session: if the autumn order shipped in December and the next production decision falls in the second quarter, April is the natural sourcing window.

First-time buyers also benefit from the spring session's lower attendance: the same registration, the same halls and the same learning curve, with more air at each booth. And buyers who missed the autumn window entirely can close the gap in eight months instead of waiting for the next October.

Planning the April trip

The planning sequence is the same as the autumn trip: confirm the phase against the category list, pre-register, collect the invitation letter if the visa needs it, book the refundable hotel, and confirm the freight plan before departure. The official year-round pre-registration and the alternative badge offices serve the spring session exactly as they serve the autumn.

One seasonal difference is the weather: April in Guangzhou is warmer and wetter than October, with rain more likely to affect the market days of the trip. Pack for the season, and give the outdoor market walks the flexibility the calendar allows.

Dates, scale and structure come from the organiser's official session introduction. Product rhythm and crowd observations are our own.