The China Import and Export Fair uses the Pazhou Complex on Guangzhou's Haizhu side, east along the Pearl River from Zhujiang New Town. Halls group into Areas A, B and C — your badge and session list determine which buildings you need each morning. Most buyers sleep in Tianhe or Yuexiu for metro access and dining, then commute to Pazhou; some trade visitors stay closer to Line 8 stations when sessions run late.
Baiyun Airport (CAN) sits north of the city; allow extra time on rainy mornings and during opening-week traffic. Metro Line 3 connects the airport area with Tianhe; Line 8 serves Pazhou. Taxis queue heavily at hall exits when sessions end. Many sourcing teams pre-book a driver for airport pickup and late returns — see also Canton Fair transportation and getting around Guangzhou.
Tianhe suits buyers who want newer hotels, malls and fast metro links toward both airport and Pazhou. Yuexiu offers older business districts and often lower room rates with still-reasonable metro access. Staying beside the complex can save commuting minutes but limits evening dining options. The map below shows how Pazhou relates to major hotel zones and rail lines.
| Base | Works well when… |
|---|---|
| Tianhe | You want metro to airport, malls, and mixed dining after fair hours. |
| Yuexiu | You prefer central Guangzhou feel and often lower hotel rates. |
| Near Pazhou | Session times are rigid and you want minimal commute variance. |
From CAN, many buyers take Metro Line 3 toward the city then transfer toward Line 8 for Pazhou, or book a private transfer straight to the complex or a Tianhe hotel. Road time varies with fair-week congestion; metro often has the more predictable door-to-hall elapsed time once you are through security. Taxi and DiDi work off-peak but queue hard when sessions end. Details on terminals also live in the airport transfer guide and airport transfer product page.
Metro is often fine for a badge holder with a daypack between a metro-linked hotel and one hall. A driver helps more for airport pickup, large luggage, samples or equipment, multiple meetings across Areas A–C, factory visits before or after the Fair, evening appointments, and groups that want one English-speaking contact. Do not assume a car is always faster than metro in rush hour — traffic around Pazhou can erase the advantage. Factory combinations are covered in the factory visit driver guide and factory sourcing tour.
