27/09/2018
Important Tips
1
Interpreter Is Not A Must
First of all, to answer a question which our clients frequently ask about: "Do I need a interpreter during the Canton Fair ?"
Actually the host do provide some interpreters during the whole Canton Fair but the cost is around 250USD(1,600RMB) per day. However, a normal interpreter in China just costs 50-80USD(around 300-500RMB) per day.
You don't need a interpreter because all the exhibitors basically have good English speaking salespeople on the stands.(If you don't need to have some specific communications with the suppliers, or get detailed information out of the product , you will rarely need a interpreter.)
2
Pay Attention to the Distribution of Time
For example,you'll spend 4 days on Canton Fair totally , then you can spend one and a half day in walking up and down all the areas in each of the different sections to mark the number of the booths you need.
The next step is grading the booths in your list. 1-star represents “good”,2-star represents “better” and 3-star represents the“best”.Then the rest of the days, you can pick up the best booths according to your list. That really helps a lot!
3
Don't Judge the Exhibitors’ Strength According to the Booths
You may come across with some very big and gorgeous booths but the strength of the manufacturers or trading companies are not really good indeed.
On the contrary,some booths look not very good but providing with good products, because the suppliers focus on the quality but not the marketing.To understand the real power of the enterprise, you had better spend 3 to 4 days visiting the factories personally before cooperation.
4
Don't Make A Deal In Canton Fair
Based on our experience,exhibitors in the Canton fair usually won't give you the best price at the spot. So don't make a deal in the booths, and reserve more time for consideration, then you may aware of what you really need, and get into a more advantageous position to ask for a better offer in the coming negotiation.
Transportation
As you may know, Canton Fair every year twice is set up in the Canton Fair center. These years most expo (large or small) in Guangzhou are held in this Center (or its nearby centers). Therefore, it is very important to learn of the transportation and hotels. This post covers briefly best ways to visiting this exhibition area. In future posts, we will talk about hotels.
Metro--- the best way during exhibition period
The main road crossing Pazhou Canton Fair Center areas are 2-way 10 lanes, usually big enough. However, large expos like Canton Fair usually bring huge traffic, which directly causes heavy traffic jams around the area. In order to avoid traffic jams, metro is the best transportation.
Spider-net-like subway network of Guangzhou
Guangzhou Metro owns 13 lines in operation with a length of 308 km (192 mi) and 167 stations. In 2016, the reliability of the metro's operation was No. 1 and the on-schedule rate was No. 3 in the world. In other words, you can take subway in most spots of the city. These spots include starred-hotels, railway stations, shopping malls, universities, museums, art galleries, stadium, and more. Furthermore, you can transfer any line inside metro stations. Which line stops by the exhibiton center area? It is line 8.
Which stop to get off from
There are 2 metro stations which you can get off from. One station is Xingangdong, the other one is Pazhou. If one show is in Area 1, 2 of Canton fair center, then Xingangdong stop is the best choice. Pazhou stop is for area 3, 4, 5, 6 and Poly Center.
Metro Line 8 passes Canton Fair Complex. Take metro from Exit A of Metro Xingangdong Station to Section A of the fair complex, or from Exit A or Exit B of Metro Pazhou Station to Section B of Fair Complex, or westward approximately 300 meters from Exit C of Pazhou Station to Section C of Fair Complex. You may take Metro at your convenience to Canton Fair Complex.
How to buy tickets
There are ticket dispensers in all metro stations. These machines have a large touch screen, from which you choose your destination stop, then pay, then you get your ticket. The machine accept cashes and coins, but RMB only. Cashes are limited to value 5 yuan, 10 yuan, 20 yuan. If you don't have proper value cashes, you can buy coins from reception counters. In recent 2 years, some metro stations are equiped with ticket dispensers which accept China bank cards or Wechat payments.
Taxi--- If traffic is not heavy, recommended.
Driving--- If traffic is not heavy, recommended.
Bus--- Not recommended.
Sightseeing
If you have spare time to travel around Guangzhou, you should not miss those following places.
Hotels Near Indian Restaurants
