Business travel to China, without the guesswork
Everything a foreign business visitor needs to sort out before and during a trip to mainland China — entry rules, arrival paperwork, getting connected, paying for things, hiring an interpreter, and getting around the big exhibition venues.
This site covers the logistics of the trip itself. It does not tell you which supplier to pick, how to negotiate prices, or how to audit a factory — there are plenty of paid services for that, and we are not one of them.
You will find: how to get in, how to get around, how to pay, how to be understood, how the big trade fairs actually work on the ground.
You won't find: supplier lists, factory recommendations, sourcing advice, paid consultancy, or affiliate junk. We take no commission from anyone.
Visa & entry
Who can enter visa-free, for how long, and what "business" actually covers — plus the 240-hour transit option.
Arrival & customs
The arrival card, cash declaration thresholds, and how to bring samples or exhibition gear in and out.
On the ground
Which apps to install before you fly, SIM and eSIM options, and how to actually pay for things.
Language
How to hire an interpreter, what the different types cost, and how to brief one properly.
Canton Fair
Phases, dates, badge registration, getting to the Pazhou complex and planning your days.
CHINAPLAS 2027
Dates, venue, halls and how to combine the fair with nearby manufacturing cities.
Start here
- First trip, not sure about a visa? Start with visa-free entry for business — nationals of 40+ countries can now walk in for short business trips.
- Coming for a fair? See the Canton Fair guide and register for your buyer badge well before you fly.
- Worried about paying for things? Read apps, SIM & payments before you land, not after.
About the author
Written by someone who has spent years in China's export sector and regularly hosts overseas buyers — factory visits, trade fairs, and the tedious paperwork in between. Every guide is checked against official sources, which are linked at the bottom of each page. More about this site.
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