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Spring 2015 Canton Fair

Elizabeth Shi

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Hi Guys,

For everyone visiting Phase 2, don't forget your umbrellas, its raining pretty heavily here.

@1step Looking forward to seeing you on Wed & hopefully @putinwork as well.

For anyone else visiting the fair, if you need advice for your time here in Guangzhou, feel free to ask here or drop me a PM (Nightlife, restaurants, anything goes). Ash has also written a new blog post today which is very relevant for those going to the fair, i.e. 5 Tips to Differentiate traders from manufacturers at China Sourcing Fairs . Hope it comes in handy.

Cheers
Liz
 
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Jrod31

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Hi all,

I will be attending the canton fair phase 3, this is my 1st time visiting china. I will be flying into HKG and then going to Fuoshan, GD, China.
My hotel is in Fuoshan, GD, China -- how far is that from the fair?
Is anyone meeting up in phase3?

thanks!
 

Elizabeth Shi

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Hi @Jrod31 ,

That's great to know! Foshan is just 30-40 min to GZ China if via public transport/train. :)

@putinwork will be visiting our office in GZ , you are very much welcome to visit as well.

Cheers!
 

Elizabeth Shi

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Actually, just wanted to add, depending on where in Foshan you are staying this could take well over am hour too. 40 Minutes would be if you are at the Gz/Foshan border. Foshan is technically a different city.
 
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Jrod31

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Hi Liz,

thanks! I called the hotel and they said it was about 60 minute away...
am staying around Nanguo Road East, Fuoshan, GD, China
 

Phones

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@Elizabeth Shi @Hong King Kong @Walter Hay

I'm about to book a trip to China but I don't know what kind of Visa to apply to...

The correct one would be the business visa, but they ask for invitation letters with detailed plan, and I plan on visiting many suppliers...

I could get the tourist visa, but probably not that safe to be doing business with it

Help appreciated :)
 

Elizabeth Shi

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Hi @Phones ,

You can get the invitation letter from the official canton fair organizer when you register online via their portal. A single entry business visa is perfect for visiting the fair - basically this means that you can enter into the mainland China from HK once , but if you are planning to attend other fairs in HK or go to HK then back to GZ again then a multiple entry visa is needed. ;)
 
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Walter Hay

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@Elizabeth Shi @Hong King Kong @Walter Hay

I'm about to book a trip to China but I don't know what kind of Visa to apply to...

The correct one would be the business visa, but they ask for invitation letters with detailed plan, and I plan on visiting many suppliers...

I could get the tourist visa, but probably not that safe to be doing business with it

Help appreciated :)
Elizabeth Shi is correct legally, but I can tell you that I have never obtained a business visa for my trips to China. The number of stamps in my passport has never raised eyebrows.

Seeing that you are not planning to visit the Canton Fair in October, if you want to obtain a business visa you will need to obtain those invitations from businesses you intend visiting. You will need to prepare an itinerary as well, and that is the part that always deterred me from applying for a business visa.

You may need to make last minute changes, and you may underestimate the time needed in each location. Without a fixed itinerary I was always free to make those changes. If I had made an appointment that I could not keep on a certain day because I was following up a valuable lead in another city, I could just call the supplier.

I suggest that before going, you have a look at my AMA post TRAVELING TO CHINA TO VISIT FACTORIES Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.
 
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biophase

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Elizabeth Shi is correct legally, but I can tell you that I have never obtained a business visa for my trips to China. The number of stamps in my passport has never raised eyebrows.

Seeing that you are not planning to visit the Canton Fair in October, if you want to obtain a business visa you will need to obtain those invitations from businesses you intend visiting. You will need to prepare an itinerary as well, and that is the part that always deterred me from applying for a business visa.

You may need to make last minute changes, and you may underestimate the time needed in each location. Without a fixed itinerary I was always free to make those changes. If I had made an appointment that I could not keep on a certain day because I was following up a valuable lead in another city, I could just call the supplier.

I suggest that before going, you have a look at my AMA post TRAVELING TO CHINA TO VISIT FACTORIES Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

I just got a business visa for China and it was relatively simple. I had one of my factories write me an invitation letter. I don't think I supplied any itinerary other than my arrival and departure dates. The business visa is good for 10 years so I won't need to apply for another for a long time. I don't know if it's the same with a personal visa?
 
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Hong King Kong

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@Elizabeth Shi @Hong King Kong @Walter Hay

I'm about to book a trip to China but I don't know what kind of Visa to apply to...

The correct one would be the business visa, but they ask for invitation letters with detailed plan, and I plan on visiting many suppliers...

I could get the tourist visa, but probably not that safe to be doing business with it

Help appreciated :)

Hey sorry bud I got no experience in getting VISAs for China,

I was born in Hong Kong so I got this "return home pass" where I can just go in and out of China.
 
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Walter Hay

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I just got a business visa for China and it was relatively simple. I had one of my factories write me an invitation letter. I don't think I supplied any itinerary other than my arrival and departure dates. The business visa is good for 10 years so I won't need to apply for another for a long time. I don't know if it's the same with a personal visa?
Thanks for that. It has certainly been simplified lately.
 

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