China’s Canton Fair Travel Tips For First Time Visitors

China’s Canton Fair Travel Tips For First Time Visitors

Guide to Buying Wholesale in China’s Canton Fair

So you want to start an E-commerce business, eh? Maybe you’re making some decent bank from the drop shipping biz. And now you want a direct link to a Chinese factory for maximum profits. Even if your goal is to open a physical store selling products, you must come to the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China.

China’s Canton Fair Buyer’s Guide

Finding the latest fad products and jumping in before the craze hits the fan starts with a visit to Canton Fair in Guangzhou. Before you begin your new business venture, I’ll share tips on what to expect when dealing with Chinese suppliers and vendors inside one of China’s largest business expos.

Today practically everything you’ve interacted with, especially wearing was manufactured, or at least a part of it was made in the People’s Republic of China. From medical, health, and beauty products, agricultural, clothes, and especially those crazy little fidget spinners that made America’s kids go insane over a few years ago.

Fidget Spinners – Every single one of these were manufactured in China

If you had a steady supply of fidget spinners at that time you would’ve made some cash. And that’s what most entrepreneurs today want to replicate. Finding that one viral product consumers will eat up and pay ridiculous amounts of money for.

Yes, so that’s the idea. Meeting and rubbing shoulders with factories that produce products for cheap so you can line your pockets with big profits.

But… it’s not that simple. Well, it is and it isn’t. Luck plays into this in my experience. Which I’ll get into later below.

  1. Where to Stay in Guangzhou for Canton Fair
  2. How to Get to Canton Fair
  3. Tips on Finding and Meeting the Right Sellers
  4. Price Negotiating Like a Pro and MOQ

But first here are some reasons why you should go to Canton Fair to find factories for your desired niche products.

Canton Fair Is Where You Should Go

Whether you’re planning to start an E-Commerce business or sell from a physical store, Canton Fair is a great place to start sourcing products to stock your warehouse or store shelves.

It doesn’t matter what country you are in. The fact is any market selling shoes, stuffed animals, and local souvenirs was made in Chinese factories. Even 90% of the products sold in Bangkok’s Sampeng Wholesale Market came from China. Because many Chinese Thais have retained ties with family members in China.

Canton Fair, also known as China Import and Export Fair was founded in 1957 by the Chinese government. Twice a year in Spring (mid-April to early May) and Autumn (mid-October to early November) approximately 200,000 buyers from 210 nations converge on the grounds of Canton Fair to find out what’s new, hip, and chic to sell and make hefty profits on the market.

There are 150,000 exhibits spanning 16 industries during the Canton Fair to meet, greet, and gather information on trending items with the potential to go viral, like fidget spinners.

With so many buyers and sellers converging on one space, Canton Fair is broken up into three phases, with each phase lasting four days:

Phase 1

Electronics, lighting equipment, vehicles & spare parts, machinery, hardware & tools, construction materials, chemical products, and energy resources.

Phase 2

Consumer goods, gifts, and home decorations.

Phase 3

Textiles and garments, shoes, office supplies, cases and bags, recreation products, food, health products, and medical devices.

You’re probably super psyched about visiting Canton Fair to make some deals. But first, you’ll need a China Visa on your passport.

Traveling to Guangzhou, China for Canton Fair (A China Visa Might Be Required)

Depending on your passport you may need a China travel visa. Because I’m an American citizen with a US passport I needed one. I detailed my experience in applying for a China Visa in Bangkok, Thailand where I live most of the year.

Good news if you have a US passport you can apply for a multiple-entry visa with a 10-year expiration. This is great because I will be planning to visit the Canton Fair once a year. If I had to apply individually for each visit I’d have to pay 5060 Thai Baht each time I want to travel to China.

It is important to remember, that when you register as a buyer to attend the Canton Fair, you should receive an electronic invitation letter which is a good idea to take with you when applying. Bringing a copy of this invitation letter when handing in your visa application could make your China visa process smoother.

Because you will see on your China Visa application there are questions asking where you will be going or what you will be doing in China during your entire stay.

The Language

The only real obstacle however will be language. English is not widely spoken even in most service industry providers in Guangzhou. Most restaurants do not have menus in English.

Guangzhou’s metro subway train station is entirely in English including announced stops.

If you need to get somewhere by taxi make sure you have the address written down in Chinese.

While at Canton Fair rest assured everyone inside the exhibit booths can converse and write English.

In any case, have your Google Translate app ready for action. Better yet download the WeChat App. Every single vendor inside uses this app. There is even a nifty built-in translate-to-Chinese function.

Here’s a video of my 4 day stay in Guangzhou while attending the Canton Fair in late October through early November 2018:

 

1. Best Area to Stay in Guangzhou for Canton Fair

Yuexiu District

From my experience, if you want to stay in an area that is easy to travel to Canton Fairgrounds it is best to stay in Yuexiu District.

Personally, I stayed at Nomo Beijing Road A Jiedang MIX International Apartments and yeah, it’s got a long name. But the location is perfect. We were right inside a shopping center full of restaurants plus this subway station Gongyuanqian 公园前 in the lower levels. It can’t get any better than that.

You can check out more Yuexiu Hotels in Guangzhou on Agoda.com which is the same hotel website I used to search for discounts.

 

I’m looking at this from a business and a tourist viewpoint. Might as well go sightseeing in Guangzhou while making deals at Canton Fair, right?

And, the hotel is just north of the Yuexiu district and easy to reach by taxi which is what we used because we arrived in the city late and left for the airport early in the morning.

I could’ve used the subway trains to get to Baiyun International Airport but the Guangzhou Metro Stations open from 6 am until about 11:30 pm.

My wife and I enjoyed our sightseeing side trip. We went walking around and visited tourist attractions. And, the food in Guangzhou is awesome. It’s the kind of food I grew up eating like dim sum in New York City’s Chinatown or Hong Kong.

Even Western food is surprisingly yummy.

Might as well fill up on good food from restaurants around the Yuexiu district. Because even though there’s a cafeteria-type area inside Canton Fair my wife and I really didn’t find what was offered there too appetizing. But that’s just us.

Now that you know where to stay to enjoy the city of Guangzhou let’s jump into what you’re here for, which is doing business inside Canton Fair.

Wheeling and Dealing at Canton Fair

Before heading to Canton Fair you register online to get a buyer’s badge. It’s free and simple to navigate through the online application forms. You will need to send a front-facing profile photo and business card.

You can register on the premises of Canton Fair if you wish but I believe there is a small fee. And possibly a waiting line. Besides, I highly recommend registering online because you can get an invitation letter to make it easier on your China visa process.

2. How to Get to Canton Fair (map)

Address of Canton Fair: No. 380, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou, China
Address in Chinese: 中国广州市海珠区阅江中路380号

Canton Fair Is Near These Two  Subway Guangzhou Metro Stations:

  1. Pazhou Station
  2. Xingangdong Station

The first day I went to Canton Fair I took a public taxi. My wife and I just did a little bit of sightseeing so we were not near a train station. Since there were so many public taxis driving around we decided to try it out.

I just showed the driver my buyer’s badge which had Canton Fair written in Chinese so he knew where I wanted to go. Guangzhou taxi drivers should not have any problems at all finding Canton Fair. It’s a big deal event that happens twice a year in Guangzhou so there’s no reason at all they wouldn’t know where it is. The metered fare came out to about 70RMB ($10USD) for 8 kilometers. Which is a reasonable price.

We took a subway train back to our hotel because I wanted to try it out. I mentioned there was a station right beneath our hotel too. It is insanely cheap, just 5RMB which is .70 cents US. Just bear in mind Guangzhou Metro train fares are priced on distance.

3. Tips on Finding and Meeting the Right Sellers for Your Products

Currently, I am selling different products manufactured in China. One of the items is ladies’ shoes. 60% of the shoes are made in China, whether it is fake or genuine. I’ll be using ladies’ shoes as a product example.

When you get to Canton Fair you will be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of sellers occupying exhibit booths. We certainly were. Many are elaborately decorated booths and some are modestly designed. All have wall-to-wall displays of shoe samples they have produced.

All the salespeople can speak English, some more fluently than others. Since we were selling ladies’ shoes to the Thai market we had to find a style that suited the style choices of Thai women.

You will be speaking with lots and lots of salespeople because in the shoe section alone at Canton Fair there were hundreds of exhibit booths lining up and down the massive convention hall.

So have a notebook in hand to take down information. But most importantly staple the business cards of companies you’ve spoken with to said notebook. Even better download the WeChat app, which is China’s very own messaging app, and take down their contact information. On top of that, take photos of salespeople including the exhibit booth so you and they can remember who you spoke with.

4. Price Negotiating Like a Pro and Understanding MOQ

Remember this little three-letter acronym MOQ. It means Minimum Order Quantity. It means exactly what it sounds. Every seller you consequently speak with has a MOQ. And every seller you will encounter has a varying MOQ number. The prices they quote are in US dollars.

For example, this would’ve been our first time attempt at ordering shoes so we didn’t want to order too many ladies’ shoes to handle.

We were only looking to purchase an initial order of 1000 pairs of high-heeled ladies’ shoes. Which is a very, very small order in the world of shoe industry in China. Obviously, sellers want buyers to order as much as they can.

We did find many sellers with too high of an MOQ. But don’t sweat it, there are so many sellers you are bound to find one that fits your MOQ as long as it’s reasonable.

But the fact is, most people attending the Canton Fair are folks like you and I. My wife and I didn’t want to commit ourselves to a huge order. We just wanted a thousand pairs of ladies’ shoes to test the market back in Thailand. The women’s shoe business in Thailand is very competitive.

Chances are, whatever you are planning to manufacture in China and sell in your home country you don’t want to order a massive amount too. It will take some digging to find a seller willing to deal with small orders.

Three Tips to Remember Inside Canton Fair

  1. The first thing you should never do is lock down a deal with the first exhibit booth. No matter how nice or friendly the salespeople are. Even if they’re giving out unlimited donuts. Just kidding.
  2. Make it clear you are walking around and checking prices. If a salesperson knows you’re browsing for prices they may try and offer the best price they can give. But even then, try and talk it down as much as you can. You’d be surprised.
  3. Chances are you will not be dealing directly with a manufacturer, but instead some sort of manufacturing broker. A middle company.

Okay, that third tip deserves some explanation. Believe me, it was a real revelation for me also.

This was something I suspected while speaking with the sellers on the side. And was confirmed with a family member who does business in Guangzhou and is sorta of kinda business broker herself in China.

I’ll explain from the start. You see, Guangzhou is a modern metropolis as I mentioned. It’s not exactly littered with factories spitting out gadgets, clothes, and, picture frames. Where Chinese workers toil long hours in sweaty factories.

That happens inside factories located in cities on the edge of Guangzhou. Like Shenzen, Foshan, Huizhou, Zhuhai, and so on.

Map of Guangzhou and surrounding cities
There are many cities surrounding Guangzhou doing most of the actual manufacturing work

Guangzhou is also a convenient place for foreigners to connect with Chinese manufacturers, or at least with Chinese companies with connections to Chinese factories. Because there’s an airport in the city, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Guangzhou has a suitable and adequate hospitality infrastructure to handle foreign visitors comfortably.

And Guangzhou has a lot of office structures where middle companies have showrooms where buyers can go visit. We visited the company we used to put in our shoe orders. They picked us up from our hotel. And when we were finished finalizing our shoe order the owner was nice enough to drive us to a mall where we could do some shopping.

Canton Fair Buyer's Guide Infographic

Don’t Be Shocked to Find Out You’re Dealing With Middle Companies – There Are Advantages

In essence, you’ll be dealing with middlemen companies that take orders from foreign buyers to factories surrounding Guangzhou. These middlemen companies deal with multiple factories. So they’ll take your order and shop around for factories fitting your price criteria as well as theirs.

I’m not saying this is true for every single industry represented at Canton Fair.

For my instance, it wouldn’t make sense for shoe factories to spend money on renting a space, spend money on decorating and designing a booth. Hiring people to sell. Break everything down at the end of the convention and ship everything back to their headquarters. That’s a lot of unnecessary work. Factory owners rather sit back and have middlemen bring orders to them.

I didn’t mind dealing with a middle company. Sure, they cut into your profits. But again, in my instance, there’s a big chance a shoe factory would not accept my small order. A broker could take my order, bundle it with all the other orders, and thus be able to present it to a factory for preferred pricing.

In the end, it’s a win-win situation where I’m satisfied with the price and quality of my shoe order.

Wrapping It All Up

Guangzhou is an amazing modern city and one of the largest three in China. I could’ve squeezed in the old cliche about the old and the new. But really, Guangzhou is a city intertwined with the old and the new! What can I say that no one else has said already?

There are modern buildings, modern subway trains with English signs and announcement stops, with modern buses. Above all this is how you know when a city has reached a level of peak sophistication. And that is the amount of Starbucks. There are so many Starbucks Café in Guangzhou that if you threw a rock you’d hit two Starbucks.

It’s an ideal location for hosting the Canton Fair. Remember to pre-register. Pick a hotel in the Yuexiu district. Don’t worry too much if you’re not dealing with a factory directly. Figure out the price you are willing to pay and the amount of products you can handle. Don’t remember to factor in the price for shipping freight. And grab some dim sum at a restaurant in Guangzhou and enjoy your trip.

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Strolling Through Seoul, South Korea

Strolling Through Seoul, South Korea

The Best Way to Explore Seoul is on Foot…

Seoul is the best and easiest city to explore on foot. I have been visiting Seoul once every year for the past 5 years. It’s my favorite city for stopover whenever I fly Korean Air from Bangkok to New York.

Though to me, it’s not just any old stopover anymore. The word stopover in Seoul doesn’t do the capital city of South Korea any justice.

I look at visiting Seoul as a real treat. The cherry on top before heading back to New York on that 14 hour journey back to New York.

Cheonggyecheon Stream Seoul

Seoul is one of the best cities to walk around and explore on foot…

Whenever I visit Seoul I get a chance to reflect back on the months I’ve spent in Thailand and the other countries I’ve visited in Asia. Seoul is sort of like a time marker for me. A bookend to mark my journey for the year before heading back to New York City.

A Time for “Soul” Searching

Seoul has an incredible amount of green open space. For a city of 10 million inhabitants there is a surprising amount of places where you can feel absolutely at peace! I love to sit around one of Seoul’s palace grounds and just relax and unwind.

Deoksugung Palace

These two young ladies have got the right idea. Spending a beautiful day talking to a friend is a great way to spend time…

And you can see many Koreans doing just the same. When the weather and temperature is just right it is pure bliss and joy to walk around Seoul or just sit somewhere and let your world’s worries melt away.

Gangnam Seoul South Korea

A crossroad near Gangnam District…

Top 5 Reasons Why I love Walking Around Seoul

  1. Seoul is very clean with low pollution.
  2. No need to rely on taxis and public transportation to get to most major tourists attractions.
  3. Seoul is very safe with low crime. Walking around the city at night is just as fun!
  4. Seoul has a lot of green space and for a big city it doesn’t feel cramped. You’ll never feel claustrophobic in Seoul.
  5. Korean street food!

Because Seoul is simply one of the best cities in Asia to walk around, explore and just get lost for a few hours wandering around quiet alleyways and major thoroughfares.


Seoul Plaza South Korea

Seoul Plaza, the cities streets are wide with plenty of pedestrian walkways…

Seoul’s pedestrian sidewalks are wide, open and well paved. And Korean motorists obey traffic lights and recognize pedestrian right of way.

It’s also a very safe city to walk around especially at night. The city’s police presence is very active since the country is still technically at war with the North.

Seoul’s Subway Train System is Awesome! But You Don’t Really Need It…

As of writing I’m in my early 40’s. Even though I can stand to lose about 15 pounds of weight I am capable of walking around Seoul to get from one tourists attraction to the next.

Changdeokgung Palace

Injeongheon Hall 인정전, the main throne hall of Changdeokgung Palace 창덕궁 in Seoul, South Korea

For example Seoul’s biggest attractions are its magnificent grand palaces. In between those grand palaces are serene temples, spacious parks and historical landmarks. Even though most attractions have train stations nearby, I highly recommend walking from one to the other. Seoul really is a wonderful city and worthy of exploring every single nook and cranny.

Seoul South Korea Grand Palace Maps

Map of Seoul’s 5 Grand Palaces, train stations and other landmarks…

I also discovered that when you use the subway trains you often have to change train lines. And when you do, you usually have to walk quite far to make a train transfer. If you’re going to be walking anyways, why not walk above ground, especially when the weather is wonderful!

Don’t miss out on the wonderful landmarks dotting the city. Would you rather be outside walking around and taking pictures and selfies? Or slugging it through a tunnel to catch a subway train?

Here’s an Excellent Video That Will Give You An Idea What it is Like to Walk the Five Palaces of Seoul!

Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces (In the Order You Should Visit)

  1. Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) (Closed Mondays; Ticket 1000 won)
  2. Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁) (Closed Mondays; Free Admission)
  3. Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) (Closed Tuesdays: Ticket 3000 won)
  4. Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon (창덕궁과 후원) [UNESCO World Heritage]  (Closed Mondays; Tickets 3000 won, Under 24 years Free) / (Huwon Secret Garden Tour Ticket 5000 won)
  5. Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁)  (Closed Mondays; Ticket 1000 won)

Seoul’s 5 palaces all open at 9am. Though all usually close around 6pm but depending on the month and season certain palaces close a half hour earlier or a half hour later.

And the ticket prices I noted above are for adults. For teenagers it’s usually half the price and I believe children 6 and under enter for free. Seniors aged 65+ can also enter for free.


Huwon Secret Garden Tour

You can take a guided tour inside Huwon Secret Garden which last 90 minutes…

Now it is very possible to visit all five palaces in a day. But you’d probably have to hurry a little. Some of the palaces are bigger than others, particularly Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon. Huwon has a guided secret garden tour which in itself last 90 minutes.

Gyeongbokgung Palace also has a National Korean Museum that warrants a visit. So there are bits of side trips at almost every palace.

Seoul Combination Ticket for Palaces

Purchasing this packet of tickets saves you 4000 won…

Planning to stay in Seoul a Little While Longer?

What I recommend if you are planning to visit all 5 Seoul Palaces is to break up your visits into two or three days if time permitting.

If that’s your plan you should purchase the Combination Ticket for Palaces. The price is 10000 won which includes ticket price to Jongmyo Shrine (종묘) another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gyeongbokgung Palace Throne Room

A throne fit for a Korean King at Gyeongbokgung Palace…

This packet of tickets saves you 4000 won so if you’re planning on visiting all 4 of the 5 palaces (because Gyeonghuigung Palace has free admission) and Jongmyo Shrine you might as well purchase this integrated Royal Palaces combination ticket pack.

And the integrated tickets are valid up to a month from date of purchase. So you can enjoy visiting your favorite Seoul Palaces as much as you want before the 1 month expiration date.

Ticket offices are found at all palace entrances (except Gyeonghuigung Palace because it's free)...

Ticket offices are found at all palace entrances (except Gyeonghuigung Palace because it’s free)…

You can purchase the integrated tickets packet at any of the grand palaces ticket booths except Gyeonghuigung Palace because that’s the only admissions free palace in Seoul.

Need to upload your fresh selfies and photos to Facebook or Instagram? You can get free Wi-Fi internet access near the ticket booths. It’s just one of the free internet Wi-Fi hotspots in Seoul for tourists to get connected and share their holiday photos on the spot.

Jongymo Shrine Seoul South Korea

There are free english guided tours at Jongymo Shrine as well as other Seoul’s Grand Palaces…

More Strolling Around Seoul Tips

If your goal is to visit the palaces in multiple days, you can also visit Cheonggyecheon Stream, another popular and beautiful spot in the heart of Seoul’s commercial business district.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

While in Seoul, be sure to visit Cheonggyecheon Stream!…

Cheonggyecheon Stream is right across from Deoksugung Palace which is my first suggested palace to visit if you plan on squeezing a visit to all five palaces.

You’re also going to want to visit Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을) which is about a 10 minute walk from the eastern gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul

Bukchon Hanok Village is still a residential area. There are some very lucky folks living in some very nice homes…

It’s a very trendy area and quite extensive as well with some steep but paved roads. There is an area famous for traditional Korean homes called “Hanok” and is still a residential area so you’ll find many signs requesting visitors to respect the home owners’ properties.

Don’t Forget to Check Out Insadong Too

While you’re doing research on visiting Seoul I’m sure you’ve come across Insadong too. It’s a popular tourists shopping strip full of souvenir shops, traditional Korean restaurants as well as Korean snack vendors and street food!

The Best Area for Budget Hotels in Seoul

The city of Seoul is big. And the magnificent Han River cuts right through the middle. Seoul’s five grand palaces are located on the north side of the Han River. And there are many more other landmarks and tourists attractions located on the north side of the Han River as well.

I usually stay at the Seoul City Hotel when I want to explore the grand palaces, Namsan Tower, Dongdaemun Market and Namedemeun Market...

I usually stay at the Seoul City Hotel when I want to explore the grand palaces, Namsan Tower, Dongdaemun Market and Namedemeun Market…

If you’re looking for budget hotels and plan on visiting all 5 great palaces in Seoul here are two areas to take a look at for your hotel options:

  1. Namdaemun Market
  2. Dongdaemun Market

Namdaemun and Dongdaemun are near each other. When I want to visit the palaces I usually stay at Seoul City Hotel in Namdaemun. At that hotel I can walk to Deoksugung Palace, in about 15 minutes at a leisure walking pace.

At both of those recommended locations for budget hotels in Seoul you can get a 2 star hotel room for between $30USD to $60USD a night. Many hostels are also located in both areas as well.

Both recommended locations also have train stations nearby too.

I’ve Got Nothing Against Seoul’s Subway Trains

Seoul’s subway train system is excellent! And I only use it when I need to. For instance if I want to visit Hongdae which is a popular shopping/street market section of Seoul popular for young and always hip Koreans. But it’s too far to walk there so I just use the train.

And there’s the Itaewon district where the Korean War Museum is located. It’s just west of Namdaemun and easier to simply get there by train.

Gangnam District Seoul

The first time I ever went to Gangnam District I was amazed at how big it was…

Plus who can forget the Gangnam District made famous by super K-Pop star Psy! Gangnam is located south of the Han River. Unless you can walk on water or swim like a dolphin this is the time when the subway train comes in handy too.


I’m Always Looking Forward to My Visits in Seoul

A view from Namsan Mountain

A view from Namsan Mountain where Seoul Tower is located…

Seoul has given me a first glimpse into Korean culture and life for the very first time 5 years ago. My first impressions and experiences in this wonderful city has left me yearning and excited for more future visits.

The city has it all. Great food, wonderful friendly people, amazing beautiful palaces and landmarks. But most importantly, Seoul is so easy and pleasurable to explore on my own two feet.

Coffee and Pie in Seoul

Coffee and pie after a nice stroll around Seoul is a must!…

But Wait There’s More…

Another excellent reason to wander around Seoul on foot. South Koreans love coffee so there are many cafés. Some are small and unique run by local Koreans and others are large coffee chains like Starbucks and Holly’s Coffee.

Me, I prefer the smaller cafés with a bakery section. Every year when I head back to Seoul I discover a nice little cozy café. Coffee and cake together. The best combination ever after a full day of strolling around Seoul.

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