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125th Canton Fair, Guangzhou, China travel advice

Travel advice for visitors to the 125th Canton Fair that takes place from 15 April to 5 May in Guangzhou, China.

Advice for visitors travelling to Guangzhou for the 125th Canton Fair that takes place from 15 April to 5 May 2019

China Import and Export Complex, known locally as the ‘Canton Fair’, on a large single site venue.

Take out travel insurance before you travel, if you get into difficulties it could save you a lot of money.
Ensure that you comply fully with Chinese entry/exit requirements and register your temporary residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arriving in the country.
If you stay in a hotel, registration is usually completed on your behalf as part of the check-in process.
Failing to register after arrival may mean that you could encounter issues when departing China.
Carry your passport for identification purposes at all times and keep copies of the data page separately, in case your passport is lost or stolen.

Taxis are widely available in Guangzhou and it is worthwhile having the address of your accommodation and destination in Chinese to show to the driver.
Local companies in China offer a car service which can be booked through smart phone apps.
Disputes over taxi fares can occur. Insist on paying the metered fare and ask for a receipt; this has the taxi number on it.
Many hotels run complimentary shuttle buses and boat transfers to the venue throughout the dates.
Guangzhou has an efficient and easy-to-use metro network. The nearest station to the venue is Xingang Dong (Line 2).

Prostitution in China is illegal and there have been instances where visitors have fallen victim to extortion associated with payment for sexual services.
Gambling is illegal in China.
There are extremely severe penalties for drugs offences in China, including the death penalty. The Chinese authorities can undertake random drug testing on foreign nationals including on entry to the country. There have been incidences of police raids on clubs, bars and homes, and these can include on the spot urine sampling.
You can find information on LGBT life in China on the British Embassy website. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.
The typhoon season in China normally runs from May to November. You should monitor the progress of approaching storms and follow the advice of the local authorities. See Natural disasters on our travel advice pages.
High levels of air pollution can occur in the Guangzhou area which may aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma conditions. You can check the pollution index levels for many cities in real time. See Health