Canton Fair or Yiwu market: which is better for buying from China?
Short answer: The Canton Fair in Guangzhou is a large trade fair held twice a year, best for meeting factories and comparing many manufacturers in a few days. Yiwu market (Yiwu International Trade City) is a permanent wholesale market open most of the year, best for small mixed orders of ready-made small goods from many booths. Many buyers use the Canton Fair to find factories for big runs and Yiwu to buy a wide range of items in smaller quantities.
- Canton FairGuangzhou, spring and autumn, three phases
- Yiwu marketYiwu, Zhejiang, open most of the year
- Canton Fair is strongest forFactories, larger and custom orders
- Yiwu is strongest forSmall goods, many items, smaller quantities
What is the Canton Fair?
The Canton Fair is the common name for the China Import and Export Fair. It takes place at the fair complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou, in south China. It runs twice a year: a spring session (usually April to May) and an autumn session (usually mid-October to early November).
Each session is split into three phases of about five days, with a short break between them. Each phase covers different industries. Broadly, the first phase leans to electronics, machinery, hardware and building materials, the second to consumer goods, gifts and home decoration, and the third to textiles, clothing, shoes, office supplies, toys and health products. The exact split changes between sessions, so check the official site, cantonfair.org.cn, for current dates, phases and buyer registration rules before you book travel.
Exhibitors are mostly manufacturers and export trading companies. You see samples and catalogues, collect contacts, and negotiate the real order afterwards.
What is Yiwu market?
Yiwu International Trade City is a permanent wholesale market in Yiwu, Zhejiang, in east China. It is made up of several huge buildings (Districts 1 to 6) with tens of thousands of booths selling small commodities: jewelry and accessories, toys, stationery, gifts, household goods, hardware, bags, festival and party goods, and much more.
The market opens on most days of the year, usually during daytime business hours, and closes for a holiday period around Chinese New Year. Many booths are showrooms for factories or wholesalers. Plenty of goods are in stock, and many booths sell in carton quantities. Our guide to Yiwu market districts shows what each building sells.
Canton Fair vs. Yiwu market side by side
| Question | Canton Fair | Yiwu market |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Guangzhou, Guangdong | Yiwu, Zhejiang |
| When | Two sessions a year, each in three phases | Most days of the year, closed around Chinese New Year |
| Who you meet | Mostly factories and export trading companies | Booths run by wholesalers, traders and factory showrooms |
| Product range | Very wide, including machinery, electronics and building materials | Mainly small commodities and everyday consumer goods |
| Typical order size | Often larger production orders; MOQs set by each factory | Often smaller; many booths sell by the carton, depending on the item |
| Buy on the spot? | Rarely; mainly samples, contacts and follow-up quotes | Often possible for goods in stock |
| Best for | Finding a factory for a large or custom run | Mixing many products in one order, trial orders, restocking |
Minimum orders vary a lot by product. Our guide to typical Yiwu MOQs gives ranges by category.
When the Canton Fair makes more sense
- You need a factory that can produce a large, repeat or custom order.
- Your products are outside Yiwu's main range, such as machinery, large appliances or building materials.
- You want to compare many manufacturers in one category within a few days.
- Your travel dates fit the spring or autumn session and the right phase for your products.
When Yiwu market makes more sense
- You want many different small products, each in modest quantities.
- You want to start with a small trial order before committing to a factory run.
- You need goods soon, and stock items will do.
- Your dates do not match the fair, because the market is open most of the year.
Can you do both on one trip?
Yes, some buyers do. Guangzhou and Yiwu are far apart, but they are linked by high-speed rail and domestic flights, so allow at least a day for travel between them. Yiwu is also close to Hangzhou and within reach of Shanghai by high-speed train, which makes it easy to add to a trip to east China.
A practical plan is to use the Canton Fair to shortlist factories, then visit Yiwu for the many smaller items that round out your range. You can also skip the trip: an agent in Yiwu can walk the market for you, send photos and live video from booths, and buy on your behalf.
Tips for either route
- Bring clear specs. Photos, sizes, materials, colours, target price and quantity save time at any booth.
- Collect contacts, then follow up in writing. Prices spoken on a busy day change; get them confirmed on a quote or invoice.
- Ask for samples before large orders. A sample is the quickest check of quality.
- Plan quality checks and shipping early. Goods from many suppliers usually need collecting and packing together before export.
- Avoid fake brands. Do not buy copies of famous logos at a fair or a market; they can be seized at customs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canton Fair or Yiwu market better for small orders?
Yiwu market is usually better for small and mixed orders, because many booths sell goods in stock by the carton. Canton Fair exhibitors are mostly factories and trading companies that often expect larger production orders, although minimums vary by supplier.
When is the Canton Fair held?
Twice a year in Guangzhou: a spring session, usually April to May, and an autumn session, usually mid-October to early November. Each session runs in three phases covering different industries. Check cantonfair.org.cn for the current dates.
Is Yiwu market open all year?
Yiwu International Trade City opens on most days of the year during daytime business hours. It closes for a holiday period around Chinese New Year, and some booths close earlier or reopen later than others.
Can I buy goods on the spot at the Canton Fair?
Usually not in quantity. The fair is mainly for seeing samples, meeting suppliers and collecting quotes; orders are normally placed and produced afterwards. At Yiwu market, goods in stock can often be bought directly.
Can I visit the Canton Fair and Yiwu on one trip?
Yes. Guangzhou and Yiwu are far apart but linked by high-speed rail and domestic flights, so allow at least a day for travel. Yiwu is also close to Hangzhou and reachable from Shanghai by high-speed train.
Do I need to travel to Yiwu to buy from the market?
No. A Yiwu sourcing agent can visit booths for you, send photos and live video, buy, check quality, pack goods from many suppliers together and ship them to you.
If you met suppliers at the Canton Fair or online, we can still help: send us the supplier's contact and we will tell you whether we can buy, check and ship the goods with your Yiwu order. Our fee is a flat 10% of the goods value only (minimum US$50 per sourcing order), with samples, freight and third-party tests billed separately at cost. See Yiwu agent vs. buying directly on Alibaba for how an agent compares with ordering yourself.