China's largest trade fair is the size of 71 Walmart Supercenters, where buyers go to stock the world's shelves with toys, TVs, and toilets - here's what it's like

Apr 18, 2018, 11:50 IST

This year's Canton Fair will feature 60,475 booths and take up a total of 1.185 million square meters — that's the size of 71 Walmart Supercenters.

About 200,000 buyers attend each session.

Some buyers come with a tour company, while others book their own travel for which airlines and hotel chains aggressively market their services.

There are 704 guest rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel adjacent to the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Those who need to travel to the fair have to deal with scalpers who have hoarded tickets and resell them at a markup of 250%.

Because of the large number of attendees, health precautions have been taken in the past. In 2014, people had their temperatures checked before entering the fair to prevent the spread of Ebola.

Sometimes health outbreaks are good for business. In 2009, the H1N1 caused interest in health items at the fair to surge.

Inside the exhibition buyers can find pretty much anything they could ever want.

There are plenty of plastic toys ...

And novelty items, such as this foldable keyboard.

There's also an official e-commerce platform. This metal fidget spinner costs $2.50 and the factory has the capacity to make 88 million of them a month.

There are TV screens everywhere.

And all types of vehicles.

This booth specializes in police and ambulance lights.

Industrial equipment is also popular. From clamps and chains ...

... to huge excavators.

Suitcases are of course popular.

So, too, are pipes, apparently.

Buyers can stock up on Christmas decorations...

And machetes.

Everything is for sale.

Even the kitchen sink.

Demonstrations are common, and sellers use everything from mechanical dinosaurs and palm trees to mimes and dance troupes to catch a buyer's eye.

But space comes at a premium.

Buying all day can make you hungry, but sometimes there's not enough seating — so you improvise.

Like an airport, a select few have access to VIP clubs. These clubs can offer buffet restaurants, lunch and coffee coupons, meetings with foreign-affairs officials, and "exquisite gifts."

Outside the exhibition, amateur translators and interpreters offer their services.

Some companies recommend bringing two sets of business cards. One with professional contact details, and another with just a name, title, and website so you don't get inundated inquiries after the fair ends.

Some companies recommend bringing two sets of business cards. One with professional contact details, and another with just a name, title, and website so you don't get inundated inquiries after the fair ends.

Many buyers sit down with sellers to discuss their needs.

Others take notes as they go.

These days, Amazon sellers visiting the Canton Fair are even hosting their own meet-ups on the sidelines.

Canton Fair is considered a barometer of China's foreign trade, and some exporters are currently considering reducing exports to the US.

Last year's Canton Fair in spring closed with $30 billion in turnover.

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China's largest trade fair is the size of 71 Walmart Supercenters, where buyers go to stock the world's shelves with toys, TVs, and toilets - here's what it's like

This year's Canton Fair will feature 60,475 booths and take up a total of 1.185 million square meters — that's the size of 71 Walmart Supercenters.

About 200,000 buyers attend each session.

Some buyers come with a tour company, while others book their own travel for which airlines and hotel chains aggressively market their services.

There are 704 guest rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel adjacent to the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Those who need to travel to the fair have to deal with scalpers who have hoarded tickets and resell them at a markup of 250%.

Because of the large number of attendees, health precautions have been taken in the past. In 2014, people had their temperatures checked before entering the fair to prevent the spread of Ebola.

Sometimes health outbreaks are good for business. In 2009, the H1N1 caused interest in health items at the fair to surge.

Inside the exhibition buyers can find pretty much anything they could ever want.

There are plenty of plastic toys ...

And novelty items, such as this foldable keyboard.

There's also an official e-commerce platform. This metal fidget spinner costs $2.50 and the factory has the capacity to make 88 million of them a month.

There are TV screens everywhere.

And all types of vehicles.

This booth specializes in police and ambulance lights.

Industrial equipment is also popular. From clamps and chains ...

... to huge excavators.

Suitcases are of course popular.

So, too, are pipes, apparently.

Buyers can stock up on Christmas decorations...

And machetes.

Everything is for sale.

Even the kitchen sink.

Demonstrations are common, and sellers use everything from mechanical dinosaurs and palm trees to mimes and dance troupes to catch a buyer's eye.

But space comes at a premium.

Buying all day can make you hungry, but sometimes there's not enough seating — so you improvise.

Like an airport, a select few have access to VIP clubs. These clubs can offer buffet restaurants, lunch and coffee coupons, meetings with foreign-affairs officials, and "exquisite gifts."

Outside the exhibition, amateur translators and interpreters offer their services.

Some companies recommend bringing two sets of business cards. One with professional contact details, and another with just a name, title, and website so you don't get inundated inquiries after the fair ends.

Many buyers sit down with sellers to discuss their needs.

Others take notes as they go.

These days, Amazon sellers visiting the Canton Fair are even hosting their own meet-ups on the sidelines.

Canton Fair is considered a barometer of China's foreign trade, and some exporters are currently considering reducing exports to the US.

Last year's Canton Fair in spring closed with $30 billion in turnover.