Sample itineraries
Four trips, planned around factory hours
These are the four routes we run most often. Each one is a starting point: we cut days, add factories and swap cities after the first call. Prices are ground support for the trip, not per person.
| Trip | Days | Cities | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Fair, then the factories | 7 days | Guangzhou, Foshan | US$1,960 | First fair, first order |
| The Yiwu market run | 5 days | Yiwu, Shanghai | US$1,390 | First mixed container |
| Deep sourcing across three cities | 10 days | Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou | US$2,790 | New product, new line |
| The two-factory audit | 3 days | Foshan, Dongguan | US$840 | Supplier already signed |
Trip 01
Canton Fair, then the factories
Two phases of the fair, four factories and one day in Foshan. You leave with a shortlist, a price sheet and samples on the way home.
Day 1
Land, badge, and a first walk
We meet you at CAN, check in near Pazhou and collect your buyer badge.
Day 2
Phase one: electronics and lighting
Six hours in the halls, eight to ten booths tagged and two meetings booked.
Day 3
Phase two: homeware and gifts
One interpreter, your price band and notes taken in your own spreadsheet.
Day 4
Panyu: three factories in one day
Sample rooms at nine, the assembly line at eleven, a second supplier after lunch.
Day 5
Foshan: ceramics and furniture
Lecong for furniture, Nanzhuang for tiles, 25 minutes from Guangzhou South.
Day 6
Price, sample and paperwork
We compare landed cost per unit and pick three suppliers for the first order.
Day 7
Consolidation and the airport
Samples packed, invoices checked, transfer to CAN with two hours to spare.
Included
- Seven days of English-speaking support, 9 am to 7 pm
- Airport pickup and drop-off, plus a driver on factory days
- Canton Fair invitation and badge help
- Price-sheet and landed-cost comparison
Not included
- International flights and China visa fees
- Hotel, meals and fair entrance
- Sample purchase and courier costs
Trip 02
The Yiwu market run
Two days in the market, one day in the factory towns, one day with the forwarder. Built for a first mixed order of 12 to 30 cartons.
Day 1
Shanghai in, Yiwu by rail
Airport pickup and the 1 hour 30 train, then district one before dinner.
Day 2
Districts one and two
Toys, houseware, hardware; booth numbers, prices and minimums collected.
Day 3
Districts three to five, then checks
Stationery, cosmetics, socks; then licences and production addresses verified.
Day 4
Zhuji and Yongkang factory day
Socks in Zhuji, tools in Yongkang, one hour each way with a car.
Day 5
Consolidation, Shanghai, and out
We fix the carton count with the forwarder before your flight home.
Included
- Five days of support and interpretation
- Shanghai pickup and rail tickets booked
- Market orientation and booth shortlist
- Consolidation and carton-count check
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Hotel and meals
- Sea freight and destination charges
Trip 03
Deep sourcing across three cities
Ten days for a product that does not exist yet: components in Shenzhen, tooling in Dongguan, pricing and logistics in Guangzhou.
Day 1
Shenzhen arrival and Huaqiangbei
Check in at Nanshan and price a bill of materials across three stalls.
Day 2
Bao'an: assembly and PCBA
Two factories and one test bench; the board, housing and battery checked.
Day 3
Certification and a second line
A lab for CE scope, then a second factory on the same spec sheet.
Day 4
Dongguan: the tool shop
Machine list, steel grade and trial report, then the tooling ownership talk.
Day 5
Dongguan: furniture and packaging
Three suppliers in one day, twenty minutes apart, licences checked.
Day 6
Audit day and move to Guangzhou
A full audit in the morning, the 50-minute train after lunch.
Day 7
Guangzhou: markets and the fair
Textiles at Zhongda or a fair phase if the dates line up.
Day 8
Panyu factory and a second price
One factory visit and a landed-cost sheet in one currency.
Day 9
Negotiation and sample sign-off
Tooling schedule, MOQ and inspection points written down before we leave.
Day 10
Logistics handover and departure
Forwarder introduction, shipping marks, inspection plan, and a contact in each city.
Included
- Ten days of support and interpretation
- Drivers across the three cities
- Factory audits with a written report
- Landed-cost comparison and negotiation notes
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Hotel and meals
- Tooling, samples and lab fees
Trip 04
The two-factory audit
Three days, two or three factories, one written verdict. For the buyer who already has a purchase order and needs to know the line is real.
Day 1
Briefing and the first audit
Checklist agreed at nine, factory walked after lunch, line and QC checked.
Day 2
The second factory, and the comparison
Same checklist, same questions, and two suppliers you can now compare.
Day 3
Report, price, and the next order
Written verdict with photographs, a price comparison and two alternatives.
Included
- Three days of audit support
- Factory bookings and a car between sites
- A written report with photographs
- Two alternative suppliers if it fails
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Hotel and meals
- Third-party inspection fees
Which of these is closest to your trip?
Send the dates and the product list. We reply with a revised route and a fixed day rate.