Guangzhou广州
Guangdong
The 139th Canton Fair, which closed in Guangzhou on 5 May 2026, drew 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions. Beyond the fair, Guangzhou is China's cosmetics capital, with 1,870 licensed cosmetics manufacturers in September 2023, about a third of the national total, and its Shiling town in Huadu produced 12.496 billion yuan of bags and leather goods in 2023. The city also runs dense wholesale districts for clothing, fabric, shoes and accessories, making it a common first stop for small brands.
Garments and fabricsLeather goods and bags (Shiling)Cosmetics and personal careWholesale market goods
Key figures
- 314,000 from 220 countries and regions
- Overseas buyers at the 139th Canton Fair · 2026↗
- 1,870 (33.6% of China's 5,561)
- Licensed cosmetics manufacturers in Guangzhou · 2023↗
- Over 100 billion yuan, about 55% of national industry scale
- Guangzhou cosmetics industrial output · 2023↗
- 12.496 billion yuan; about 700 million bags a year
- Shiling bags and leather goods cluster output value · 2023↗
Buyer tips
- Baiyun district OEM cosmetics labs will fill small runs (often a few thousand units), but you remain responsible for market compliance: FDA facility registration and MoCRA listing in the US, a Responsible Person and CPNP notification in the EU, and full INCI ingredient disclosure.
- Shiling bag makers range from home workshops to export factories; ask for material specs (genuine vs PU leather, hardware plating) and check REACH/Prop 65 restricted substances such as chromium VI and phthalates.
- Shisanhang and Baima sell wholesale stock with low MOQs, but quality and sizing vary between batches; for your own label, commission a factory with a size chart and approved pre-production sample.
- Book Canton Fair hotels and the buyer badge early, and use the fair to shortlist; verify promising exhibitors with a factory visit, as many booths are held by trading companies.
Wholesale markets
- Shisanhang Garment Market (十三行)
- Baima Garment Market (白马服装市场)
- Zhongda Fabric Market (中大布匹市场)
- Shiling International Leather City (狮岭国际皮革皮具城)
- Guangzhou Baiyun World Leather Trading Center (白云世界皮具贸易中心)
Trade fairs
- Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair, spring and autumn)
- China International Furniture Fair (CIFF Guangzhou)
- China International Beauty Expo (CIBE)
- Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE)
Typical ocean transit
| From | North Europe | US West Coast | US East Coast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen (Yantian/Shekou) | 35–4227–30 via Suez | 14–18 | 32–38 |
| Guangzhou (Nansha) | 35–45 | 16–20 | 35–41 |
Port-to-port, in days. Door-to-door adds inland haulage, customs and final delivery. Most Asia–North Europe services still sail around the Cape of Good Hope; the range assumes that routing. Some services are returning to Suez from September 2026, which shortens the trip to about the “via Suez” figure.
Related guides
- How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas
- Canton Fair Guide: Autumn 2026 Dates, Registration and Tips
- Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
- How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Suppliers
- China Manufacturing Hubs: Which City Makes What (Cluster Map)
- Factory vs Trading Company in China: How to Tell and Which to Use
Other clusters in Guangdong
- Shenzhen — Consumer electronics
- Dongguan — Electronics manufacturing
- Foshan — Furniture (Lecong, Longjiang)
- Guzhen (Zhongshan) — Decorative lighting and chandeliers
- Chaozhou — Sanitary ware (toilets, basins, smart toilets)
- Yangjiang — Kitchen knives and knife sets
- Shantou Chenghai — Plastic toys
- Jieyang — Stainless steel kitchenware and tableware