How Can You Discover Great Suppliers by Visiting China?
In my previous post, I explained four main ways to find Chinese suppliers online. However, many people still prefer to source products by visiting China in person rather than only searching online.
For those who have never been to China or never bought products from there, finding suppliers on the ground can be a big challenge.
In this article, I’ll share three main methods to locate reliable suppliers and original manufacturers by visiting China, along with practical tactics that professional importers use when working with suppliers and manufacturers.
1.Tips for Your Trip to China.
2.Find Suppliers in China Trade Shows.
3.Find Suppliers in Chinese Wholesale Markets.
4.Find Suppliers by Exploring Industrial Clusters.
Tips for Your Trip to China
Check Border Entry & Exit Policies
Since the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19, many countries have imposed travel restrictions and border controls. So before planning your visit to China, the first thing you need to do is check the latest entry and exit regulations. You can get accurate and up-to-date information by contacting the Chinese embassy in your country.
Install a VPN
In mainland China, websites like Google, Facebook, and YouTube are blocked. If you want your phone or laptop to function just like it does back home, you’ll need to install a reliable VPN before you arrive. One solid option is Astrill. It’s a paid service, but it’s worth the investment for smooth online access.
Download a Translation App
If you’re concerned about language barriers or cultural differences, don’t worry—there are helpful tools available. A translation app can make communication much easier.
One recommended app is iFLY Voice Input, which offers real-time voice translation from Chinese to English and is completely free.
If your budget allows, hiring a human interpreter is another effective option. Although it may cost around $50 to $100 per day, it can greatly improve communication and save time during business negotiations.
Find Suppliers in China Trade Shows
No matter the size of your business, attending trade shows is one of the most effective ways to connect with suppliers face-to-face.
Suppliers at trade shows are usually manufacturers or trading companies, so you can expect more competitive prices—especially if you meet their minimum order requirements, which often range from $500 to $1,000 per product.
Each year, thousands of trade shows take place across China. These shows generally fall into two categories:
Comprehensive trade shows featuring a wide range of product categories
Industry-specific trade shows focused on one product type or sector
The Largest Trade Show in China
The Canton Fair is China’s largest and most well-known comprehensive trade show. It offers an enormous selection of product categories and is held twice a year in Guangzhou. Each session consists of three phases, with each phase dedicated to different types of products.
Different Products Are Shown in Different Phases
Each phase of the Canton Fair features different product categories. There is a three-day break between phases, so if the products you’re interested in appear in different phases, you’ll need to plan for extra days in your travel schedule.
How to Find More Trade Shows in China
If you’d like to explore more trade shows beyond the Canton Fair, this detailed guide on China trade shows might be helpful.
You can also find trade show information online:
10times.com is one of the best global websites for searching trade shows and events.
Qufair.com is another option, though it's mainly in Chinese. You can use Google Translate to view it in your own language and still get useful information.
Tips for Talking to Suppliers at Trade Shows
If it’s your first time visiting a trade show, here are some helpful tips when dealing with Chinese suppliers:
Take Notes During the Show
Write down the minimum order quantity, the price, and the supplier’s contact info for each product you're interested in. This will help you compare and negotiate later.
Buy Samples at the End of the Show
Try purchasing product samples just before the trade show ends. Many sellers are happy to sell their display samples at lower prices rather than pack them up and carry them home.
Negotiate After the Show Ends
Don’t rush into placing orders on the spot. Instead, reach out to the suppliers after the show. You'll usually have more time to negotiate a better price and terms when things are less hectic.
Find Suppliers in Chinese Wholesale Markets
If you can’t attend trade shows, or you just want to buy different types of products in small amounts, then wholesale markets are a good option. These markets usually have fewer limits on product types and minimum order quantities (MOQ).
Sometimes, the prices in wholesale markets are even lower than what you find at trade shows or on websites like Alibaba.
So, what kind of wholesale markets should you visit in China?
Just like trade shows, wholesale markets can be divided into two types: general markets and specialized markets. The sellers in these markets are either factories or trading companies.
There are wholesale markets in almost every city in China, but over 99.5% of them are not worth visiting because they mainly serve small local wholesalers.
That’s why I only recommend you visit the wholesale markets in Yiwu and Guangzhou.
Visit the Wholesale Market in Yiwu
The Yiwu Market (also called Yiwu International Trade City) is known as the world’s largest wholesale market for small goods. It has more than 50,000 suppliers offering many types of products. It’s open all year round, except for a 15-day break during the Chinese New Year.
Half of the market’s customers are from other countries. So you’ll see many foreign buyers there, and some of them have even lived in Yiwu for many years.
Yiwu International Trade City is a huge building—5.5 kilometers long with 4 floors. Products are well organized in different sections, so it’s easy for you to find almost any consumer product you need.
Besides the International Trade City, there are also other special markets in Yiwu for things like machines and fabrics. These markets are not as well-known, but you can still find good prices there.
Visit Wholesale Markets in Guangzhou
If you’re looking for clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics, or watches, I strongly suggest you visit the wholesale markets in Guangzhou. That’s because most factories that make these products are in or near Guangzhou.
You might find these products in Yiwu too, but the prices there are usually a bit higher.
Finding suppliers in Guangzhou can be difficult sometimes. The markets are spread out across the city, and it’s hard to know which ones sell what or where the best prices are.
Just getting used to the wholesale market environment can take a lot of time—without even starting your actual sourcing work.
So, my advice is: prepare well before coming to China. Do as much research as you can in advance. This will save you time and help you work more efficiently once you're here.
When you arrive in Guangzhou, you’ll also meet many foreign buyers who have lived there for years. You can talk to them and learn from their real-life experience.
Here are some articles I wrote about Guangzhou wholesale markets—make sure to check them out for more info:
– Guangzhou Market Guide for Wholesale & Retail
– Guangzhou Clothing Markets
– Guangzhou Electronics Markets
– Guangzhou Watch Wholesale Markets
Visit Wholesale Markets in Other Cities
Besides Guangzhou, there are also many great wholesale markets in other cities in China.
For example, Shenzhen has many wholesale markets for different types of products. If you're looking for electronics, you must visit Huaqiangbei Market in Shenzhen. It’s the biggest electronics market in the world, with nearly 50 different markets in that area. Some people even say you can build your own phone by buying all the parts there.
Another example: if you want to buy fabrics, then you should visit the fabric wholesale markets in Shaoxing Keqiao. This is the largest fabric trading hub in the world, and it’s only 90 kilometers away from Yiwu.
Find Suppliers by Exploring Industrial Clusters
Why Visit Industrial Clusters?
All the ways we’ve talked about for finding suppliers in China share the same goal: to get better products at lower prices. And the closer you are to the original source, the cheaper the price will usually be.
That’s why many buyers work hard to find the real original manufacturer—so they can avoid middlemen and reduce their purchasing costs.
The manufacturers you want to find are often the ones who don’t go to trade shows, don’t use Alibaba, and only sell their products through trading companies—not directly to foreign buyers.
As I mentioned in earlier posts, these kinds of manufacturers are easier to find in industrial clusters. That’s because factories making the same kind of product are usually located in the same area. This helps them share supply chains and hire workers with the right skills more easily.
Want to learn more about industrial clusters?
Check out these posts to learn about the two biggest industrial clusters in China:
– Industrial Clusters in Zhejiang Province
– Industrial Clusters in Guangdong Province
How to Find and Visit Industrial Clusters?
One simple way to find an industrial cluster in China is:
Go to Alibaba and search for your product.
Use the province filter to see where most suppliers are located.
Look at the first word of the supplier’s company name. This is usually the name of the city or province.
Check the addresses on their contact pages.
If you see the same town or industrial area show up many times, that place is likely an industrial cluster for your product.
Once you find the cluster, you can go there in person to look for manufacturers. This may take time, but it’s often worth it.
If you don’t know where to start when you arrive, try talking to local people in the area. Many of them are willing to help—and some might even guide you to more manufacturers if you’re willing to pay a small fee.
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