CIMAMOTOR

About the fair

The China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition (CIMAMotor) has been held annually since 2002 and, after more than 17 years of continuous development, has become the world's largest and most important event for commuter motorcycles. As one of the industry's key new-product launch platforms, CIMAMotor spares no effort to strengthen its role not only for brand display, trade, technology transfer and information dissemination, but also as a platform for innovative products that present future trends in energy saving and environmental protection.

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.