The largest import and export fair held annually in Guangzhou is the Canton Fair, officially called the China Import and Export Fair.
The event began in Guangzhou in spring 1957, when it was known as the Chinese Export Commodities Fair. It was created to promote China’s foreign trade and has continued as a major channel connecting Chinese manufacturers with overseas buyers. The name “Canton” reflects Guangzhou’s older English name.
The fair takes place twice each year, in spring and autumn, rather than only once. It covers a broad range of products, including electronics, machinery, household goods, textiles, consumer products, and new-energy technologies. Its enormous scale is why it is often nicknamed “China’s No. 1 Fair.”
The World Economic Forum is a discussion and policy organization, not a Guangzhou trade exhibition. Hannover Messe is a major industrial fair in Germany, while Expo 2020 was a one-time world exposition held in Dubai.