Shenzhen sends 1,200+ high-tech firms to Canton Fair

More than 1,200 companies from Shenzhen are showcasing their technologies ranging from artificial intelligence to service robotics and smart healthcare at the 139th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, which opened in Guangzhou on Tuesday at a record scale.

An overseas visitor poses with a robot wearing a traditional Yingge dance headdress at the 139th Canton Fair in Guangzhou today. Phtos by China News Service

The Shenzhen delegation includes 1,217 companies occupying 3,032 booths, according to organizers. Among them are 99 brand-name enterprises with 474 premium booths, while the rest are spread across general exhibition areas.

A hallmark of Shenzhen’s participation is the high concentration of advanced manufacturers. About 804 companies — roughly 73% of the delegation — are recognized as national or provincial “specialized and sophisticated” firms or high-tech firms, or champions in specific manufacturing segments.

Overseas buyers from Chile pose for a group photo outside the venue of the 139th Canton Fair in Guangzhou today. 

Overall, the Canton Fair has expanded to a record 75,700 booths and more than 32,000 exhibitors across three phases, including nearly 3,900 first-time participants.

Organizers have increased the number of exhibition categories to 179, adding nine new sections including smart wearables, display technologies, consumer drones, and modular housing. Many of these sectors align closely with Shenzhen’s industrial strengths.

Shenzhen’s presence also extends to emerging specialty zones. Six firms are showcasing service robotics across 24 booths, while two companies are presenting smart healthcare solutions in eight booths. These zones have drawn strong visitor interest, with some exhibitors previously reporting hundreds of client meetings per day.

Overseas buyers discuss products with an exhibitor at a booth during the 139th Canton Fair in Guangzhou.

Across the fair, more than 4.65 million products are on display. New products account for 23% of the total, while green and low-carbon products make up 22%, and items with independent intellectual property rights represent 25%.

Organizers say the event reflects broader shifts in China’s export sector. “High-end, intelligent and green manufacturing has become a defining feature of China’s foreign trade,” a fair official said, adding that the new exhibition categories are intended to help overseas buyers identify emerging products and potential partners.

Foreign travelers arrive via a dedicated 139th Canton Fair channel at Terminal 3 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport yesterday, ahead of the opening of the 139th Canton Fair, which is driving increased cross-border travel through Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

The fair is also driving increased cross-border travel through Shenzhen and Guangzhou, key gateways for international visitors. More than 8,000 foreign travelers entered via the Huanggang and Futian checkpoints in Shenzhen between April 9 and 14, up more than 60% from a year earlier, according to Shenzhen immigration authorities. Nearly 40% of those travelers entered under visa-free policies.

To handle the influx, border authorities have deployed multilingual staff and expanded digital entry systems. Online arrival card submissions now account for about 95% of entries, reducing processing time by around 80%.