CBD GUANGZHOU

About the fair

The China (Guangzhou) International Building Decoration Fair (CBD) is a major industry event presenting a strong mix of high-quality products across 16 sections and a collection of premium brands from over 2,600 exhibitors. Key sections include a high-tech products area with more than 500 leading global brands; a windows section with decorative windows and doors, exterior doors and windows, wooden doors, aluminium door profiles and innovative materials such as plastic-steel, aluminium, wood and art glass; a kitchen section with the latest high-tech cabinets and equipment from leading brands; and a decorative-glass section highlighting the link between decorative glass and new technologies. The fair also features decorative metalwork, ceilings and partitions, wallpaper and woven wall materials, staircases, decorative lighting, coatings and chemicals, finishing stone, and household and interior items.

Planning the trip

• Register the badge online. Every major fair issues visitor badges in advance, and on-site registration means queueing on the busiest morning of the show. Registration usually opens one to two months out.
• Check the visa position early. China's entry rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, including visa-free arrangements for a growing list of countries and transit exemptions. Confirm what applies to your passport for this month, and ask the organiser for an invitation letter if a business visa is needed — issuing one is routine.
• Book accommodation before the dates firm up. A large fair fills its host city and rates move accordingly. Cancellable bookings made early cost less than confirmed ones made late.
• Decide which halls before you arrive. The bigger Chinese fairs run to several halls across separate phases, and walking them without a plan burns a day. Shortlist the stands you need and treat anything else as a bonus.
• Plan the follow-up, not just the visit. Business cards collected at a fair convert poorly once you fly home: quotes arrive in patchy English, samples stall, and the time difference eats a day per exchange. Deciding who handles that before you travel is what makes the trip pay for itself.