China Import and Export Fair is also renowned as the Canton Fair. It is held biannually in Guangzhou every spring and autumn, with a history of 55 years since 1957. The Fair is a comprehensive one with the longest history, the highest level, the largest scale, the most complete in exhibit variety, the broadest distribution of overseas buyers and the greatest business turnover in China.
Trading Delegations, being composed of more than twenty thousand of Chinas best foreign trade corporations (enterprises) with good credibility and sound financial capabilities, take part in the Fair, including foreign trade companies, factories, scientific research institutions, foreign invested enterprises, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, private enterprises, etc.

The Canton fair has long been a platform for Chinese exporters to demonstrate their products and services to buyers around the world. And the reason for its success lies in the strict selection of the exhibitors.
If you are running a fledging company in China aimed at exporting, the Canton Fair is the best doorway to the international market. It is a place for new companies to make their show, and for new clients to find what they need. And before that, the companies need to pass another test.
The Canton Fair is a Trade Only show that exhibits products and services in both the consumer and industry sectors and which concentrates mainly on export trade. April 1957 saw the very first Canton Fair being held in the former Sino-Soviet Friendship Building in North Guangzhou. The Friendship Building’s exhibition space was spread over 18,000 sq.m. and was able to contain the entire fair. Several years later the fair was moved to the Liuhua Complex and remained there for many years. Recent fairs have taken place in Guangzhou’s enormous China Import and Export Fair Complex, however, and, with 1,125,000 sq.m. of exhibition space now available – and fully occupied – the fair is now a very different exhibition from that which debuted in 1957.