How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas

A sourcing trip is expensive, so it should produce decisions: a shortlist of verified suppliers, approved samples and clear quotes. That means choosing cities by what you buy, booking meetings before you land, and sorting out entry and payments at home. This guide walks through each step and ends with a checklist to take into every factory.

Choose cities by product, not by fame#

Start from your product category, because Chinese manufacturing is heavily clustered by region. One well-chosen industrial city usually beats three famous ones.

Treat this table as a starting point and confirm where your specific product is made. Search supplier addresses on B2B platforms and ask shortlisted suppliers where their factory is. Our guide to China's manufacturing hubs goes deeper by category.

Time your trip around fairs and holidays#

Timing matters as much as the destination. The Canton Fair runs every spring and autumn in Guangzhou; the autumn 2026 session has phases on October 15–19, October 23–27 and October 31–November 4. See the Canton Fair guide for what each phase covers.

Avoid the weeks around Chinese New Year (late January to February, depending on the year) and the October 1 National Day holiday. Many factories close, and travel is crowded. Factories also slow down before and after these holidays, so a visit in those weeks may not show normal production.

Sample 6-day itinerary: Guangzhou and Yiwu#

This plan suits a buyer of mixed consumer goods who wants factories in Guangdong plus the Yiwu wholesale market. Adjust the factory days to your category.

Check train times and buy tickets on the official China Railway 12306 site or app, which has an English version. Book early around holidays. For the Yiwu market itself, see the Yiwu International Trade City guide.

Visas and entry: check the current rules for your passport#

China has widened visa-free entry in recent years, but eligibility depends entirely on your nationality. The facts below are current as of September 2026; confirm them again before you book.

• 30-day visa-free entry. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) lists the countries whose ordinary passport holders can enter without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visits, exchanges or transit. The list was last updated on February 17, 2026, and includes most EU countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but not the US. China's State Council announced that the exemption for more than 40 of these countries is extended to December 31, 2026.
• 240-hour visa-free transit. Nationals of 57 countries, including the US and the UK, can stay up to 10 days if they are traveling on to a third country or region with a confirmed onward ticket. You must enter through one of the designated ports and stay within the permitted areas (NIA, updated August 20, 2026).
• Visa. If neither applies, apply for a business visa in advance. A Canton Fair invitation letter or a letter from a supplier is commonly used as supporting evidence.

Work, study and journalism always require the appropriate visa, even for nationals who qualify for visa-free entry.

Paying in China as a foreigner#

Mobile payments dominate everyday spending in China, and both major wallets now accept foreign bank cards. Set them up before you travel.

• Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both let visitors link an international bank card and pay by QR code. In March 2024, the People's Bank of China announced that platforms such as Alipay and Tenpay (WeChat Pay) would raise foreigners' single-transaction limit from USD 1,000 to USD 5,000 and the annual limit from USD 10,000 to USD 50,000.
• Fees. The wallets may charge a service fee on larger foreign-card payments, and your own bank may add foreign transaction fees. Check the fee shown in the app before confirming.
• Backup. Carry some cash and a physical Visa or Mastercard. Test your wallet on day one with a small purchase.

Keep wallets for taxis, meals, trains and small sample purchases. Pay production orders by bank transfer to the supplier's company account; see how to pay Chinese suppliers.

Interpreters and local help#

A good interpreter is worth more than an extra day. You need someone who can handle technical terms about materials, tolerances and packaging, not just small talk.

• Hire for the full factory days, not just the market days.
• Brief them on your product, specs and questions the evening before.
• Ask them to translate exactly, including "no" answers and hesitations, rather than summarizing.
• Agree the fee, working hours and travel costs in writing beforehand, and do not let a supplier supply or pay the interpreter.

Factory visit checklist#

Use the same checklist at every factory so you can compare them afterward.

1. Confirm identity. Does the business license name and address match the company you have been emailing and the one that will sign the contract?
2. See production, not only the showroom. Ask to walk the lines making your type of product.
3. Check capacity. How many lines, shifts and workers? What else is currently in production?
4. Review quality control. Is there incoming material inspection, in-line QC and final inspection? Ask to see QC records.
5. Ask about certifications and test reports required for your market, and check the issuing lab and date.
6. Discuss MOQ, lead time and payment terms for your first order and for repeat orders.
7. Look at packaging and warehousing. How are finished goods stored and packed for export?
8. Take photos and notes (with permission) and record who you met.
9. Agree next steps: sample timeline, quote deadline and contact person.

A visit tells you a lot, but it doesn't replace pre-shipment inspection of your actual order.