Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
The Elevator Escalator Expo 2027 is set to take place from April 21 to 23 at the Nanjing International Expo Center. This event will gather industry professionals, showcasing advancements in elevator and escalator technology.
With an expected attendance of over 50,000 domestic and 10,000 international visitors, it serves as a vital platform for networking and exploring new business opportunities in the elevator sector. Elevator Escalator Expo takes place in Nanjing, CN.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: Elevator Escalator Expo takes place from April 21 to 23, 2027, at Nanjing International Expo Center, Nanjing, China.
- 2Scale and Focus: The expo is expected to attract over 50,000 domestic and 10,000 overseas professional visitors.
- 3Organiser: The event is organized by Langfang Convention & Exhibition Co., Ltd.
- 4Buyer Authority: Key attendees include professionals from the elevator and escalator industry, including manufacturers and suppliers.
- 5Entry: Pre-registration is available online for visitors.
Why visit
Attendees will benefit from networking opportunities with industry leaders and access to the latest technologies in elevators and escalators. The expo is expected to attract over 50,000 domestic and 10,000 overseas professional visitors. Key attendees include professionals from the elevator and escalator.
Why exhibit
Exhibitors will gain visibility among thousands of industry professionals, facilitating connections that can lead to new business partnerships. The event is an excellent opportunity to showcase products and innovations to a targeted audience. Meet qualified buyers and partners including Elevator and escalator manufacturers, Component suppliers for elevator systems, Service providers for installation and maintenance. Position your offer across elevators for residential.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Procurement and sourcing managers from elevator and escalator OEMs comparing component suppliers
Building developers and property owners specifying vertical transport for residential, office and hotel projects
Architects and vertical-transport consultants working on core, shaft and traffic-design packages
Facility management and property service companies sourcing maintenance, modernisation and spare parts
Elevator installation and service contractors from China and neighbouring markets
Distributors and agents looking for regional representation agreements
Building-safety, inspection and standards professionals tracking GB/T 7588 and EN 81 alignment
Smart-building and IoT integrators linking lifts to building management systems
Government and municipal buyers for public housing, metro and infrastructure projects
Investors and analysts following China's urban renewal and old-lift replacement programmes
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Complete elevator and escalator OEMs presenting passenger, freight, hospital and panoramic lift ranges
Component manufacturers for traction machines, ropes and belts, sheaves and gearless drives
Door system suppliers covering landing doors, car doors, operators and door safety sensors
Control and drive vendors offering VVVF inverters, controllers, destination dispatch and group control
Cabin and car interior specialists for finishes, lighting, handrails, floors and mirrors
Safety component makers for governors, safety gears, buffers, overspeed devices and interlocks
Hydraulic lift and goods-lift builders serving warehouses, factories and low-rise projects
IoT and remote-monitoring providers selling lift telematics, dispatch software and service platforms
Installation tooling, rigging and shaft equipment suppliers
Modernisation and maintenance service companies offering retrofit packages for ageing installations
Escalator and moving-walkway manufacturers for metro, airport and retail projects
Testing, certification and standards consultancies working to Chinese and export-market codes
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Passenger elevators for residential towers and commercial buildings
Freight, goods and service lifts for logistics and industrial sites
Hospital and bed lifts with wide-car and levelling requirements
Panoramic and observation elevators for retail and hospitality projects
Machine-room-less (MRL) and compact traction packages
Hydraulic elevators and lifts for low-rise and heavy-load duties
Escalators for metro, airport and shopping-centre traffic
Moving walkways for terminals and large-format retail
Gearless traction machines, ropes, belts and sheaves
Elevator door systems, operators and safety edges
VVVF drives, controllers and destination dispatch systems
Car interiors, lighting, handrails and architectural finishes
Safety components: governors, safety gears, buffers and interlocks
IoT monitoring, telematics and predictive maintenance platforms
Modernisation kits and old-lift replacement packages
Installation tooling and shaft equipment
Location & Facilities
Venue
Nanjing International Expo Center
Nanjing, CN
Facilities
Parking
Nanjing International Expo Center in Nanjing typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Nanjing International Expo Center in Nanjing typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Nanjing International Expo Center for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Free registration
Who runs the show
Organisers
the China Elevator Association, it has evolved into a global grand event with the care and
Organiser
How the last edition performed
Previous edition
Next edition
Not announced yet
New this edition
- 1
—
Archived organiser pages from the 2026 cycle confirm an active annual series for this Nanjing elevator expo. Based on the sector's direction, the 2027 edition is expected to give more floor space to lift telematics and service software; confirm the confirmed feature zones on the official exhibitor list.
- 2
—
Expected theme rather than a confirmed 2027 feature: Chinese lift buyers increasingly specify regenerative drives and standby-mode performance for high-rise and public projects, so drive and machine suppliers are likely to lead with efficiency data on their stands.
- 3
—
China's urban-renewal programmes for ageing residential lifts make modernisation a likely growth area at the 2027 show. Treat this as a directional expectation and check the organiser's hall plan before planning meetings.
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Nanjing, CN
Why it matters
On 2027-04-21 to 2027-04-23, Elevator Escalator Expo in Nanjing covering Elevators for residential and commercial buildings, Escalators and moving walkways, Elevator components and accessories, gives construction buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · CNY
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Mercure Nanjing Downtown
4-star
Nanjing downtownUSD 150–190 / night
Breakfast, free Wi-Fi, parking, air conditioning, fitness center, restaurant, full-service laundry and business center listed in the Google Hotels capture; a downtown base with taxi or metro access to the Hexi expo district.
Novotel Nanjing Central
4-star
Nanjing centralUSD 150–190 / night
Eco-certified 4-star listed with breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking, air conditioning, fitness center, bar, restaurant and room service; central location suits buyers who want evening access to Nanjing's commercial districts.
Hampton by Hilton Nanjing Jiangning
3-star
Jiangning DistrictUSD 95–122 / night
3-star property listed with breakfast, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, fitness center, business center and kid-friendly amenities; the cheapest of the captured options, with a longer commute to the expo halls.
Holiday Inn Express Nanjing Jiangbei Wonhall Mall
4-star
JiangbeiUSD 150–190 / night
IHG 4-star listed with breakfast, free Wi-Fi, parking, air conditioning, restaurant, airport shuttle and full-service laundry; located north of the Yangtze, so budget extra time for the river crossing to the venue.
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Metro (city network, single journey)
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forNanjing Metro from your hotel to the Hexi/Jianye expo district
QR-code ticketing and transfers are documented in the Nanjing Metro guides captured for this mission; buy a token at the machine or scan a metro QR code in the local app.
Airport metro Line S1
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forNanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) to Nanjing South Railway Station
Line S1 is the airport rail link; from Nanjing South Railway Station transfer to the city network for the expo district, allowing around 60-80 minutes door to door.
City bus
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forNanjing city bus network, including routes serving central and western districts
Nanjing bus routes including line 21 are documented in Moovit and local transport guides; buses are the cheapest option but slower than metro for cross-city trips to the expo.
Taxi (central Nanjing to expo district)
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forDowntown Nanjing to the Nanjing International Expo Center area
A Google Maps capture showed roughly 24 minutes over 11.0 km via the inner ring expressway in light traffic; allow more during the morning and evening peaks.
Ride-hailing (Didi) short city trip
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forHotel to venue within the city, 6-9 km
Didi is the ride-hailing app referenced in Nanjing transport guides and offers an English interface; pick-up points at large venues are usually signed in the drop-off zone.
Taxi (airport to expo district)
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forNanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) to Nanjing International Expo Center
Airport taxi ranks are outside the arrivals hall; the airport guide captured for this mission covers the downtown route, so confirm the venue drop-off with the driver.
Weather
Late April is mild spring in Nanjing, with daytime highs typically in the 18-24 °C band and cooler nights, plus a real chance of short rain showers. The free-source weather retrieval failed for this run, so treat the temperature and rainfall figures as climatological approximations and check a live forecast for 21-23 April 2027 before departure. Air quality from the Open-Meteo forecast API near this period showed a US AQI around 80, PM2.5 near 17.9 µg/m³ and PM10 near 23.3 µg/m³; sensitive travellers should follow local advisories on the day.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mainland China connectivity needs planning. Roaming with your home SIM often works but can be expensive and may route data outside the local network; a local China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom SIM, or a China-capable eSIM bought before departure, is the usual alternative. Many international apps and services are restricted on mainland networks, so install and test any work-related tools you rely on, and arrange approved access before you fly rather than on arrival. Hotel and venue Wi-Fi is common but usually requires a Chinese mobile number or passport registration; business visitors should carry a power bank, a universal adapter for China's 220 V type A/I sockets, and an offline copy of key contacts.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Language
Mandarin Chinese is the working language of the show floor. Stand staff often speak some English, but bilingual cards and a translated company profile make meetings with Chinese component suppliers noticeably easier.
Payments
Nanjing is overwhelmingly cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for metro rides, taxis, convenience stores and many restaurants. Link an international card before departure and keep a small amount of CNY cash as backup.
Business cards
Exchange cards with both hands at the start of a meeting and treat the card respectfully rather than pocketing it immediately. A bilingual card with your Chinese company name on one side is appreciated.
Meetings and meals
Business dinners are common in Chinese manufacturing relationships and the host usually orders shared dishes. Punctuality matters; confirm whether a meeting is in a hotel lobby, a company office or a venue stand, and allow extra time for Nanjing traffic.
Tipping and bargaining
Tipping is not customary in restaurants or taxis, and service charges are rare. At the show, component prices are usually quoted per unit or per set, so confirm whether installation, freight and tax are included before comparing offers.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Book early for late-April 2027. The captured Google Flights results for New York (JFK) to Nanjing (NKG) were all one-stop routings via Seoul Incheon with long total journey times, quoted in CNY with taxes and fees included for one adult; baggage fees may apply separately. Google Flights flagged those fares as typical for the dates and advised checking for air traffic disruption updates before travel. If your city has no direct Nanjing service, compare a connection through Incheon, Hong Kong or Shanghai against a flight into Shanghai plus a high-speed train to Nanjing South Railway Station. Confirm terminal, visa transit requirements and minimum connection times before paying.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use the nearest international airport serving Nanjing; Metro, train or taxi links are typically available to the venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Nanjing International Expo Center: Nanjing downtown: Mercure Nanjing Downtown; Nanjing central: Novotel Nanjing Central; Jiangning District: Hampton by Hilton Nanjing Jiangning.
Ride-hail: Didi is the dominant ride-hailing platform in Nanjing and has an English-language interface in its international version. Set your pick-up point to a named landmark rather than a street address, since large venues and hotels have designated drop-off zones, and check the plate number before getting in. Airport pick-ups should use the official ride-hailing area in the terminal car park. Fares are metered through the app, typically around CNY 20-35 for a 6-9 km city trip, with surcharges at peak hours.
Public transit: The Nanjing Metro is the fastest way to reach the Hexi/Jianye exhibition district during show week. Buy a single-journey token at the machines or scan the metro QR code in the local app; guide captures for this mission cover QR ticketing, transfers and route maps. From Lukou Airport, Line S1 runs to Nanjing South Railway Station for onward transfers. City buses, including line 21, cover central and western Nanjing at about CNY 2 a ride but are slower for cross-city trips. Allow extra time on the first morning while you work out the transfer between your hotel line and the expo station.
Parking: The Nanjing International Expo Center has on-site parking for visitors arriving by car. Rates and hall access were not captured for this run, so confirm the daily parking fee and the gate closest to your hall on the venue or organiser site before driving. During a large elevator and escalator show, the car parks fill early, so arriving before the doors open or using metro plus a short walk is usually quicker than circling for a space.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: April 2027
Temperature: Approx. 18-24 °C by day and 10-16 °C at night in late April; spring temperatures in Nanjing can swing by around 10 °C between days, so check a live forecast for 21-23 April 2027.
Seasonality: Late April falls inside Nanjing's spring rainy window. Climatological norms suggest roughly 90-120 mm of rain across about 10-12 rain days in the month, usually as short showers rather than all-day rain. These are seasonal approximations, not a forecast for the show dates, so check a live forecast in the final week before travel.
Packing: Pack layers that work for mild days and cooler evenings, a light waterproof jacket or compact umbrella for April showers, and comfortable closed shoes for walking between halls and metro stations. Add a small mask if you are sensitive to air quality, a power bank, and a universal adapter for China's 220 V type A and I sockets. Business casual is the norm on the show floor.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at Elevator Escalator Expo usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
Day 1
Days 14-12: Check whether the show is trade-only and which company documents or invitation letters your badge type requires.
Day 2
Days 11-10: Book flights into Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) and compare arrival times against the Line S1 metro operating hours.
Day 3
Days 11-10: Reserve a hotel in the Hexi/Jianye expo district or along a direct metro line, and confirm the cancellation policy.
Day 4
Days 9-8: Apply for a Chinese visa if your nationality requires one, and check whether any visa-free transit scheme applies to your routing.
Day 5
Days 8-7: Set up Didi, Alipay and WeChat before departure, and arrange an eSIM or roaming plan that works in mainland China.
Day 6
Days 6-5: Build a target exhibitor list by product category, for example traction machines, door systems, controllers and modernisation kits.; Days 5-4: Request meetings with priority suppliers and confirm which hall and stand they will occupy once the exhibitor list is published.
Day 7
Days 4-3: Prepare bilingual business cards and a short company profile in English and Simplified Chinese.
Day 8
Days 3-2: Pack layers for mild spring weather, a light rain jacket and comfortable shoes for walking between halls.
Day 9
Days 2-1: Check the live Nanjing forecast and air-quality index, and withdraw or load CNY for small cash payments.
Day 10
Arrive in Nanjing, activate your metro QR code or transit card, and walk the venue route once before the first show day.
Day 11
Show day 1: Collect your badge 30 minutes before the doors open, pick up a hall plan, and work the priority stands before the afternoon crowds.
Day 12
Days 14-12: Confirm the 21-23 April 2027 dates and the Nanjing International Expo Center halls on the organiser site, and register for a visitor badge in advance.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at Nanjing International Expo Center
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2Elevator Escalator Expo registration concourse
Nanjing International Expo Center
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Nanjing International Expo Center
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nightsCN¥190.00
- Per diem × 2CN¥150.00
Estimated totalCN¥340.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether Elevator Escalator Expo fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For Elevator Escalator Expo, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Elevators for residential and commercial buildings solutions and benchmarking suppliers at Elevator Escalator Expo in Nanjing.
Min. budget
$3,785.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Elevators for residential and commercial buildings products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$17,032.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Nanjing show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
Gallery
Photos
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
Which airport do I fly into for the Nanjing elevator expo?
Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) is the international gateway for the city. From there, use the metro or a taxi to reach your hotel, then plan a 25-30 minute taxi or metro trip to the expo venue on show days.
How far is central Nanjing from the expo venue?
Google Maps capture showed roughly 10.6-11.0 km from central Nanjing to the expo address, with car journeys of about 24-29 minutes via the inner ring expressway depending on traffic.
Where should exhibitors and buyers stay in Nanjing?
Google Hotels results for the show dates list 4-star options such as Mercure Nanjing Downtown, Novotel Nanjing Central and Holiday Inn Express Nanjing Jiangbei Wonhall Mall, plus the 3-star Hampton by Hilton Nanjing Jiangning. Book early because late-April demand from the show can tighten availability.
How do I get around Nanjing during the show?
The Nanjing Metro is the fastest public option with QR-code ticketing and easy transfers; city buses are cheaper but slower, and Didi ride-hailing is the standard app for door-to-door trips. Approximate single metro or bus fares are CNY 2-8 with taxi trips around CNY 30-50 for a 10-11 km ride.
Glossary
- Traction elevator
- A lift whose car is raised and lowered by steel ropes or belts running over a traction sheave, usually driven by a gearless permanent-magnet machine; the dominant technology for mid- and high-rise buildings shown at Chinese elevator expos.
- Machine-room-less (MRL) elevator
- A traction elevator whose drive machine is mounted inside the shaft headroom rather than in a separate machine room, saving floor area in residential and commercial cores.
- Hydraulic elevator
- A lift powered by a hydraulic ram and pump, typically used for low-rise, heavy-load or goods applications where a machine room and pit constraints differ from traction designs.
- Escalator
- A continuously moving stepped conveyor for moving people between building levels, defined by rise, inclination (commonly 30 or 35 degrees), step width and safety-device package.
- Moving walkway
- A flat or slightly inclined passenger conveyor used in airports, metro stations and large retail complexes; usually specified by pallet width, length and incline.
- VVVF drive
- Variable voltage variable frequency drive, the inverter-based motor control that governs acceleration, ride comfort and energy use in modern elevator systems.
- Destination dispatch
- A traffic-management system where passengers enter their floor before boarding so the controller can group riders going to the same zone, reducing stops and round-trip time in busy towers.
- Gearless traction machine
- A permanent-magnet synchronous motor coupled directly to the sheave without a gearbox, valued for low noise, compact size and lower maintenance.
- Counterweight
- The balanced mass running opposite the car in the shaft, sized to offset part of the car and passenger load and reduce motor effort.
- Overspeed governor
- A safety device that detects the car exceeding its rated speed and triggers the safety gear to stop it.
- Safety gear
- The clamping mechanism mounted on the car sling that grips the guide rails during an overspeed or free-fall event; progressive types are required above certain speeds.
- Buffer
- An energy-absorbing device at the pit floor that limits the travel of the car or counterweight beyond the lowest landing.
- Landing door and door operator
- The hall doors plus the mechanism that drives car and landing doors together; door performance and safety contacts are a frequent sourcing category at the show.
- GB/T 7588 series
- China's elevator safety standard series, developed with reference to EN 81-20 and EN 81-50; compliance is a core topic for exporters and importers of lift equipment into China.
- IoT remote monitoring
- Connected lift telemetry covering fault codes, ride counts, door cycles and door-to-door time, used for predictive maintenance and service-contract reporting.
- Regenerative drive
- A drive that feeds braking energy back into the building supply instead of dissipating it as heat, a common energy-efficiency claim for high-rise and high-traffic lifts.
- Modernisation package
- A retrofit scope that replaces controllers, machines, doors or car interiors in an existing shaft, often for old residential lifts under urban-renewal programmes.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- Elevator Escalator Expo 2027
- Elevator Escalator Expo Nanjing 2027
- Nanjing CN
- Digital Technology and ICT Trade Fair Nanjing 2027
- Elevators for residential and commercial buildings
- Escalators and moving walkways
- Elevator components and accessories
- Smart elevator technology and IoT solutions
- Digital Technology and ICT Trade Fair Exhibition Nanjing
- digital transformation expo
1 more alternate names hidden
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.