MAY
2
Canton fair ultimate guide part 1 the ticket, transportation, hotel reservation and trip preparation
Filed Under:Canton fair| Viewed by: 308 Persons
This is not my first time to visit Canton fair, I have attended the fair several times both as exhibitor and buyer, however this is my first time to make the preparation(the ticket, hotel reservation, transportation planning etc), so I have quite something to say on how to make your canton fair trip much easier.
Application and registration for Canton fair
Both regular buyers and new buyers need to apply for invitation letter, with the invitation letter, you could apply for visa, the invitation letter is also necessary when you apply for free entry IC card at exhibition complex.
The following documents are needed to apply for free entry IC card(this IC card can be saved to use when you come to canton fair next time): printed invitation letter, your passport, passport photos. I would suggest you to register up for IC card in designated hotels by canton fair committee, instead of applying at exhibition complex where you have to line up for hours to apply for the entry badge. The hotels that you can register up with can be found in this link http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/buyer/detail.aspx?oid=75
Before you go to canton fair, it would be useful to research the suppliers that will attend the canton fair in your industry, so you can make sure you won¡¯t miss the most important suppliers. You could find the exhibitor in your industry here http://promoter.cantonfair.org.cn/?version=en
Another thing you should do before you come is checking the layout of exhibition center. As there are 3 areas, you could find where the booth of your industry will be located at http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/hall/en/index.aspx?start=bn, also as there are 3 phases in each edition of canton fair, you can read this article to figure out which phase to attend http://www.chinawhy.net/blog/Article.asp?id=70
The luggage
I don¡¯t know your habit, but I hate to carry heavy luggage in travel(my friend Mike will laugh here), bring some necessary medicine, clothes to change, computer, and other essential items. Remember you can almost buy anything in the supermarket in China. Besides, the brochures you collected at Canton fair will need 1 or 2 big bags to carry back.
Hotel and ticket reservation
You can book hotel in your country, but the rate I assume is much more expensive than it is here in China. Canton fair recommend a list of hotels on their website at this link http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/service/hotel/index.aspx, the rate is a bit more expensive as well. The good thing is that they are reliable and decent hotels, most of the hotels have free shuttle to send you to and pick you back from Pazhou exhibition complex, which will make your life so much easier at Canton fair, as you gradually find out transportation to/from canton fair is really a nightmare, you will need to at least line up for 40 to 50 minutes to get a taxi, metro is like a can full of people.
There are two reliable websites in China that you can book discount hotel:
www.ctrip.com
www.qunar.com
For ticket, I think it is a bit cheaper if you reserve the ticket through the above mentioned Chinese websites.