China's spring export show for apparel, home textiles, housewares and gifts: 115,000 sqm in ten SNIEC halls, 1-4 March 2027, 46,450 buyers at the 2026 edition.
Dates
1–4 Mar 2027
City / country
Shanghai, China
Venue
Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC)
Time
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Event overview
The East China Fair is China's first major export trade show of the calendar year, and its 35th edition runs 1-4 March 2027 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Organised by the commerce departments of Shanghai and eight neighbouring provinces and cities, it fills ten halls with apparel, home textiles, housewares, gifts and consumer electronics.
The 2026 edition drew 3,325 exhibitors from 15 trade delegations and 46,450 buyers from 126 countries, with USD 2. 195 billion of intention orders written in four days.
For 2027 the floor is reorganised into fourteen specialised zones plus overseas and cross-border e-commerce areas, making it a single stop for global sourcing of light industrial and textile consumer goods.
TL;DR
Buyers come for the density: more than 3,000 suppliers of apparel, textiles, housewares and gifts in ten halls, most of them manufacturers rather than trading agents, with sample-level negotiation on the floor. The show also runs matchmaking sessions by market region, which is faster than cold outreach to factories across four provinces.
For an export-oriented factory the Fair is the cheapest way to meet several thousand screened international buyers in four days, ahead of the main spring sourcing season. Brand and patent holders get visibility through the product innovation awards, and companies building domestic channels can opt into the domestic-buyer badge that the organisers print in the catalogue.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Shanghai New International Expo Centre, 2345 Longyang Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201204, China
Food options
On-site restaurants and coffee bars
On-site diningParking: On-site parking is available under and beside the halls, reached from the Longyang Road side; the Fair does not publish a daily rate for show days. Metro Line 7 (Huamu Road) is usually quicker than driving during show week.
Gate: The complex is entered from its Longyang Road and Huamu Road frontages. Registration and badge desks sit at the main entrance closest to hall 1; allow 15-20 minutes to walk from there to the far halls, and use the covered walkways between halls in wet weather.
Attend
Event days & opening times
Trade buyer pre-registration
No admission price is printed by the organiser; buyers register on the official portal and are screened as trade visitors.
Ticket info
Badge collection
Complete buyer pre-registration online, then collect the badge at the registration counter in the main entrance hall against the passport or ID card used in the application. Bring the printed confirmation and a business card.
Ticket notes
Admission is by trade registration, not a public ticket: the official portal registers buyers and reviews company details. Resellers advertise a CNY 30 electronic pass, which is their own service fee rather than an organiser price.
Build-up & tear-down
Who runs the show
East China Fair Council Office
Show owner and secretariat
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
Lead host administration
Jiangsu Provincial Department of Commerce
Host administration and trade delegation
Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce
Host administration and trade delegation
What's on
Opening ceremony and product innovation awards
The Fair opens with a policy forum and presents the annual product innovation awards to selected exhibitors.
On-site, first morning of the show.
WebsiteProcurement matchmaking sessions
Seven themed matchmaking sessions in 2026, including Europe-US, Japan-Korea and Southeast Asia rounds, with pre-scheduled buyer-supplier meetings.
Matchmaking area inside the halls; sign-up before the show.
WebsiteCross-border e-commerce forum
Sessions on AI, digital trade and platform operations for exporters, run alongside the cross-border e-commerce zone.
Conference room block; seats are limited.
WebsiteEast China Fair Product Innovation Award
Awarded to exhibitors judged to have the strongest new products across apparel, housewares, pet and 3D-printed goods; 46 companies received awards at the 2026 edition.
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce(SHCCOM)
Lead host administration · China
Jiangsu Provincial Department of Commerce(JSCOM)
Host administration and trade delegation · China
Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce(ZJCOM)
Host administration and trade delegation · China
Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce(AHCOM)
Host administration and trade delegation · China
Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce(FJCOM)
Host administration and trade delegation · China
Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce(SDCOM)
Host administration and trade delegation · China
Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Commerce
Host city trade delegation · China
Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Commerce
Host city trade delegation · China
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2026
Visitors: 46,450
Exhibitors: 3,325
Floor area: 115,000 sqm
Edition #: 34
Exhibitor countries: 14
Visitor countries: 126
This edition
2027
Visitors: 46,000
Exhibitors: 4,000
Floor area: 115,000 sqm
Next edition
Not announced yet
Growth over time
Edition recap
The 34th East China Fair closed on 4 March 2026 with 3,325 exhibitors and 46,450 buyers from 126 countries and regions. Intention orders reached USD 2.195 billion, up 5.05% year on year. Buyers from Southeast Asia rose 24.10% after a dedicated matchmaking session, and 577 exhibitors carried the domestic-buyer badge for the first time at this level. Forty-six companies received product innovation awards across apparel, housewares, pet products and 3D-printed goods.
Impact
Four days on the floor here replace months of factory visits across Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong. The measurable output is intention orders, not signed contracts, so treat USD 2.195 billion as a pipeline indicator: it shows depth of buyer interest in apparel, home textiles and housewares, and it tells you which categories the organisers will push hardest in 2027.
Audience quality
The buyer mix is weighted to Asian importers and trading companies with a growing Southeast Asian share, plus European and North American buying offices that use the matchmaking sessions. It is a working floor rather than a browsing floor: badges are vetted, and most stands are staffed by factory owners or export managers who can quote on the spot.
Exhibitor outcomes
A 9 sqm shell stand costs a fraction of a Canton Fair stand and reaches a comparable East China supplier and buyer base in one week. Return depends on booking matchmaking sessions rather than waiting at the stand, and on following up within a week while quoted prices are still valid. No audited ROI figures are published for this show.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
The nine host provinces and cities produce most of China's apparel, home textiles and light consumer goods. The Fair is their joint spring selling window, so a buyer can compare factories from Zhejiang knits to Shandong home textiles in a single hall circuit, days before the wider Canton Fair cycle begins.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Order sizes are shrinking while SKU counts rise
Western buyers are placing smaller, more frequent private-label orders instead of container-scale runs, which favours factories that can switch styles quickly and quote low minimums.
What it changes: Ask every supplier for its true minimum order quantity and sample lead time, not just unit price.
Compliance paperwork now decides the factory shortlist
Material declarations, recycled-content evidence and social-audit certificates are checked before price at most European and North American buying offices.
What it changes: Bring your document checklist to the stand and collect certificates on the day rather than by email later.
Cross-border e-commerce is restructuring the supply chain
Platform sellers need small-batch, fast-replenishment suppliers and are increasingly buying directly from factories rather than through export traders, which is why the Fair keeps expanding its e-commerce zone.
What it changes: Factories that can fulfil marketplace orders in weeks are gaining accounts that used to belong to trading companies.
The Fair sits at the front of the spring buying season. Buyers often pair it with a Canton Fair trip, a Yiwu small-commodities stop and one regional textile show.
Yiwu International Trade Fair (small commodities)
Yiwu, China
Small-commodity and gift sourcing at wholesale market scale; the autumn 2026 edition is the most recent announced.
websiteEast China Fair 2027
Shanghai, China
Apparel, home textiles, housewares and gifts; buyer badge from the official portal.
websiteIntertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, spring 2027
Shanghai, China
Fabric-first show two weeks later at the National Exhibition and Convention Center; dates follow the usual spring pattern.
websiteCanton Fair, 139th session (spring 2027)
Guangzhou, China
Phase 1 focuses on electronics and machinery; consumer goods phases follow in late April. Dates are the customary spring slot and should be confirmed.
websiteMarch sourcing week
Book flights and Pudong hotels eight to ten weeks out; the city is busy with two other March shows.
Circuit dates other than the Fair itself are planning guidance from the regular annual calendars, not organiser announcements.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Main international gateway; taxis and Metro Line 2 plus Line 7 reach the venue.
about 30 km
to venue
30-45 min
by car
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Closer for domestic connections; high-speed rail arrives at Hongqiao station next door.
about 32 km
to venue
45-60 min
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 55–90 / night
Chain rooms 10-20 minutes from hall 1; book eight weeks out because March is peak exhibition month.
USD 110–180 / night
Business hotels with breakfast and taxi ranks; 15-25 minutes to the gates.
USD 220–400 / night
Walkable to the halls or a 20-minute ride from Lujiazui; suites and meeting space for buyer teams.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Metro
Cheapest and most reliable in show-week traffic; about 10 minutes on foot from the station to hall 1.
Taxi / ride-hail
Use the official taxi rank; DiDi works in English and is usually cheaper than a street hail.
Airport metro
Runs until late evening; allow 70 minutes with luggage.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M visa (business) | Business visitors without a visa-exempt passport | $90.00 | 4-10 working days | |
| 240-hour visa-free transit | Transit passengers holding an onward ticket to a third country | — | On arrival |
China has unilateral and mutual visa-exemption arrangements with a number of countries, and a 240-hour visa-free transit policy covers many transit passengers arriving at Shanghai. Eligibility depends on nationality and itinerary, so check the consulate page before booking.
China is not a full ATA Carnet member for general goods; most exhibitors use a temporary import bond through the official freight handler instead.
Official visa pageWeather
Early March in Shanghai is cool and damp: 5-14 Celsius, a fair chance of drizzle, and a cold wind off the river in the evenings. Halls are heated but the walk between them is outdoors.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mobile data needs a local eSIM or roaming plan; Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are not reachable on Chinese networks without a VPN arranged before arrival. WeChat is the working channel for Chinese suppliers.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Business cards
Exchange cards with both hands and read the card before putting it away; your contact is usually the export manager, not the owner.
How price is discussed
Ask about minimum order quantity and lead time first, then price. A written quotation on company paper is expected before any deposit.
WeChat first
Chinese suppliers answer on WeChat long before email. Set up an account before the show and scan QR codes at the stand.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)
Book eight to ten weeks ahead; the first week of March is a heavy exhibition window in Shanghai and fares from Europe and Southeast Asia firm up early.
Book flightsMost business visitors need an M visa; some nationalities travel visa-free, and the 240-hour transit rule covers many onward-ticket holders.
Estimated cost: USD 60-140 depending on nationality and service fee
Processing: 4-10 working days
Apply at least three weeks before travel and carry the printed invitation letter.
OfficialPartnerGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Metro Line 2 from PVG to Longyang Road, change to Line 7 for Huamu Road, about 70 minutes and CNY 7-9; taxi 30-45 minutes and CNY 120-170.
Hotel → venue: Metro Line 7 to Huamu Road covers the Longyang Road and Century Park hotel cluster; taxis are cheap but slow at opening time.
Ride-hail: DiDi is the local ride-hail app and has an English interface; airport pick-up points are signed in the terminal.
Public transit: Line 7 (Huamu Road) and Line 2 (Longyang Road) are the two useful lines; buy a transport card or use the metro QR code in Alipay.
Parking: On-site parking is limited during show week; hotel parking is the better option if you drive.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: March
Temperature: 5-14 Celsius
Seasonality: Early spring drizzle and grey skies; humidity climbs through the week.
Packing: Light layers, a compact umbrella and comfortable shoes for concrete hall floors.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 2 (2 March 2027)
Day one is consumed by the opening ceremony, badge queues and supplier staff still arranging samples. By the second morning every stand is fully staffed, matchmaking sessions are running and factory owners are on the floor rather than at the ceremony. The final day closes at 16:00 and many stands begin packing early.
Register as a trade buyer on the official portal and get the confirmation — Company details are reviewed; use the passport name you will carry.
Book flights and a hotel in the Longyang Road corridor — March is peak exhibition month in Shanghai.
Build a target list of halls and stands from the exhibitor directory — Group suppliers by zone so you walk each hall once.
Apply for the buyer matchmaking sessions and print the invitation letter — Sessions fill before the show; bring copies of the letter for the visa check.
Collect the badge, buy a metro card and confirm the first two meetings — Registration is quieter on the afternoon before opening.
Arrive, clear security and collect the badge
Main entrance, hall 1Apparel and fabric supplier meetings
Hall W1-W2Lunch and a walk through the housewares zones
On-site food courtPre-booked matchmaking session, then home textile stands
Matchmaking areaWrap-up notes and confirm tomorrow's appointments
Café between the hallsThe Bund and Lujiazui skyline
Half-Day City
25-35 minutes by metro from Huamu Road
The classic riverfront view and the fastest way to see old and new Shanghai in one evening.
Zhujiajiao water town
Day Trip
About 1 hour by car
Canals, stone bridges and Ming-era lanes; a useful break if you stay the weekend after the show.
Kerry Hotel lobby lounge
Hotel bar
Walkable from the halls and where several delegations hold evening receptions.
Century Park area restaurants
Dining district
Twenty minutes away and quieter than the venue for a supplier dinner.
Quotations from East China factories are usually valid for 30 days and move with fabric and labour costs, so the first week after the show is the window that matters.
Budget
Shell scheme
CNY 1300–2100 / m²
Raw space
CNY 900–1600 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
The Fair publishes stand prices only through the exhibitor portal and trade-delegation offices, not as a public tariff; bands here are built from comparable East China consumer-goods shows.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
shell_scheme
exhibit · 9 sqm
USD 1700–2700 / per booth
raw_space
exhibit · 36 sqm+
USD 4550–8100 / per 36 sqm
hotel
both · mid
USD 110–180 / per night
flight
both · Europe return
USD 650–950 / return
per_diem
both · standard
USD 50–85 / per day
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| shell_scheme | exhibit | 9 sqm | USD 1700–2700 / per booth | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| raw_space | exhibit | 36 sqm+ | USD 4550–8100 / per 36 sqm | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| hotel | both | mid | USD 110–180 / per night | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| flight | both | Europe return | USD 650–950 / return | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| per_diem | both | standard | USD 50–85 / per day | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
Decision
Six questions on your role, budget and timing. The result suggests whether to visit, exhibit or wait.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is the main reason you would go to Shanghai in March 2027?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You have a product brief and can place a trial order within a quarter.
Best for
Importers, retail buyers and sourcing agents with an approved sourcing budget
Min. budget
$1,200.00
Timeline
6-8 weeks to register, book and plan halls
Risks
Ten halls are too many for two days
Most stands quote MOQ above small-buyer needs
exhibit
You can staff the stand with Mandarin-capable sales for all four days.
Best for
Export manufacturers and brand owners selling into Asia, Europe or online marketplaces
Min. budget
$4,500.00
Timeline
3 months from stand booking to build-up
Risks
Directory copy deadlines fall early
Custom builds need approved drawings
skip
You cannot act on supplier contacts within six months.
Best for
Consumer shoppers and companies with no China sourcing plan this year
Timeline
Not applicable
Risks
Trade-only entry is screened
Travel costs are wasted without meetings
Book with
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
Leads the nine-administration group that owns and runs the Fair, and allocates the Shanghai delegation's stands.
Named as a host administration in the 2027 stand application notice.
Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
The ministry under which China's export trade fairs operate and which several listing services credit as the Fair's sponsor.
Listed as organiser by trade-show directories; not confirmed on the Fair's own pages.
Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC)
The Pudong venue that hosts all ten halls, with metro access at Huamu Road and on-site freight handling.
Venue named on the official Fair timetable and in the 2027 notice.
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
National trade-promotion body that coordinates outbound buyer groups and trade delegations for Chinese exhibitions.
A public trade body active in the same circuit; not named as a Fair partner.
Recommended providers
China Visa Application Service Center
Handles M visa appointments and document checks outside mainland China.
Filter by Huamu Road or Century Park for the walkable exhibition corridor.
English-language booking with PVG and SHA inventory and Chinese domestic connections.
Air freight and temporary import brokerage; the venue's official handler is named in the exhibitor manual.
Travel and exhibition-goods cover; confirm the policy covers trade-fair samples.
Bund cruises and Zhujiajiao day trips can be booked for the weekend after the show.
Scan visitor QR codes into a shared contact list that the whole stand team can see.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
6 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
4
References
3
Publishers
4
Date checked
East China Fair Council Office
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
Ningbo Commerce Bureau
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.
