China's largest trade fair — how to source there and follow through.
The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) is the largest trade fair in China, held twice a year in Guangzhou across three phases by product category. It lets you meet suppliers, see and handle products, and compare many manufacturers in person — but you still verify and sample before ordering.
Held each spring and autumn in Guangzhou, the Canton Fair runs in three phases, each covering different product categories (broadly: electronics and industrial; consumer goods and home; textiles, food and health). It draws tens of thousands of exhibitors, making it the single biggest place to meet Chinese manufacturers face to face.
The value of going in person is seeing and handling products, meeting suppliers directly, and comparing many manufacturers in a few days. Face-to-face contact and a physical sample tell you things a listing cannot, and a supplier who exhibits has at least invested in being there.
Meeting a supplier at the fair is a strong start, not a decision. Follow up with your verification steps, request samples, and inspect before ordering. If you can't attend, the fair also runs an online platform you can browse.