The Canton Fair trip, Oct 13th -23th 2011 (Now extended)

[ozbilt]

Giving this a separate thread, that is not in the shed, so all that may be interested in coming, can join in.

Anyone wanting more info can PM or use my contact info in my bio to talk to me.

[ozbilt]

The Canton Fair.... probably the biggest trade fair in the world.

It is huge.

Sixteen exhibition halls are built, among which the land area of indoor exhibition halls is 160000m².

Think of this, there is a subway station at each end, different suburb !





http://mapcanton.com/Canton-Fair-Guide.php

http://mapcanton.com/canton-fair-map-Ve ... hinery.php

We would fly into Hong Kong with Cathay, go to Guangzhou East Railway Station from Hong Kong on the fast train, then get on Metro 1 & change to Metro 2. Now will probably use a private bus, easier to move a group. Travel in both HK & China is easy.

We have a hotel for all nearby. If we are going to do it, I will need to know by the end of June to organize the hotels & flights etc.

You will need a Chinese Visa in your passport (do not need a Visa for HK), easily obtained by either going to a travel agent & having them do it, or if close to the addresses listed on the bottom of the attached link & have it done there. I get a 60 day multi-entry Visa each year, but for most of you would only need a "one off" visa.

http://www.visaforchina.com.au/visaen/v ... thod=index

[ozbilt]

We are going to the "Vehicles & spare parts" part of the fair. It is part of Phase 1 (15 -19th Oct)

Note there are 3 phases with 3 days in between each for tear down & setup.

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/facilit ... oid=8469#3

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/buyer/d ... spx?oid=75

Dollar today.... 1.00 AUD = 6.85005 CNY (Thurs June 9th)

I am putting a complete package together for flights & hotel for the Canton Fair. I can arrange flights from both Sydney & Perth, but would prefer if all arrived in HK around the same time to allow group travel.

I will plan a SYD to HKG flight, train travel & 5 nights in GZ. Probably should run around the AU$3.5K mark each person inc flights, hotel, transfers from HK to GZ & extras such as translators.

That figure would include at least 1 translator for the group (note, "translator", not "interpreter").

I will also give you an idea of what it cost to eat etc, so I should have an figure on the cost.

Oh, & it will be a guy only trip as I cannot organize a second trip to keep the girls safe while we spend time at the trade fair. Doing that would involve more translators, drivers etc & basically would blow the costs way out.

6 of us would be the minimum, 8 would be perfect, but more OK.

[ozbilt]

Initial plan is to fly up the night of the 13th October. We would then travel (probably by private bus) from Hong Kong into China (making the border crossing easier) then onto Guangzhou making it about a 1 1/2 -2 hour bus ride.

That gives the group the rest of the 13th & all of the 14th to explore GZ & be ready for the Fair on the 15th through to the 19th. We probably will escape during the afternoon of the 19th & relocate to Hong Kong giving the group the whole day of the 20th to explore HK before boarding the night flight back to Australia.

More details will come as I lock more of the trip down.

[ozbilt]

So far I have received interest, from people I believe would make the journey, making it 5 in the group at present.

As I said before, 6 would be good, 8 perfect, but more is OK as we can then think about splitting the group into 2 making it easy to get around.

I will post up hotels & other points of interest as we get closer.

[ozbilt]

Again look at this page to see what will be on exhibition...

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/facilit ... oid=8469#3

Electronics & Household Electrical Appliances
Lighting Equipment
Vehicles & Spare Parts
Machinery
Hardware & Tools
Building Materials
Chemical Products

[ozbilt]

More info as I think of it, in case it slips my mind later.

You would bring your Aussie mobile phone & if you do not have the international hookup, then just get a Chinese SIM card & that way I can connect with you all while there.

About AU$30 would get you a SIM & 100CNY of credit, more than enough for the time you are there. Email the # back home so they can contact if necessary.

Also connect up to Skype if you are not on already as the hotels all have hi-speed internet.

Another thing is to get an email box like hotmail, gmail or yahoo as they are easily accessible in China. I have listed them in order of popularity of use up there. Email boxes attached to your provider can be troublesome to access up there.

[soc123_au]

I've got yellow fever, woo hoo. Should be fun. Who else is going?

[ozbilt]

I've got yellow fever, woo hoo. Should be fun. Who else is going?

I am going... & another 4 have expressed real interest, however we are all Sydney based, but this trip is open to all of you. One of those 4 is someone that I have shown around Dongguan before.

While I am in the US I am organizing the translators & other people that will make the trip very smooth & enjoyable.

We are organizing restaurants for the real "China eating experience". There is some really good eating up there. Also things like getting a haircut (2 hours of absolute luxury... so let the hair grow before the trip ) & organizing foot or full massages, as that is the best way to relax after being at the trade fair all day.

This trip is totally escorted & I will make sure it is an trip you will never forget. I have already done this before with people visiting the factory in Dongguan. Guangzhou is also a city I am very familiar with.

[ozbilt]

What to expect to find at the Canton Fair....

Make sure your spam blocker is on before opening links, this site used to be bad, now appears OK, but I still have mine on... !!!!

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?Sea ... Category=Y

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?Sea ... lCategory=

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?Sea ... lCategory=

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?Sea ... lCategory=

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?Sea ... lCategory=

It will be intense, but a lot of fun....

[blkpny]

Looks like fun!

[ozbilt]

I am still working on this trip. After discussion with my partner in the US & China ventures, we have come up with the following.....

Now have limited the trip to 6 guys + myself.

Moved the hotel to ChangPing (DongGuan) for 2 reasons, I know the area much better & they are half the price.

Have arranged a driver & van big enough for the 7 of us (8 counting the driver).

Still looks like coming in on the budget stated above (AU$3.5K + spending money)

[ozbilt]

My registration for the Fair came through today. I will accept the invitation when I return to Duggo.....

[ozbilt]

All those that have expressed interest need to contact me (or post here) by this Sunday (10th July) to confirm your interest as I will be setting the final #'s with the agent on Monday & will go ahead & book the hotels myself.

Reason is the Canton Fair is so big that we are now looking at hotels in cities that are 1 - 2 hours away. Nothing left in GuangZhou. However that is a good thing because now we are bunking down in the city I know best.

Airfares are looking real good, however the hotels are usually double at this time of year (around AU $60 a night per person instead of $30 ) & I am trying to get the best deals.

[69Boss]

Thanks for putting this together Kerry, looks like a great opportuninty to see how things are done. I am in the process of organising my Passport so count me in. Rob who was with me when we called in on you while on our Bikes has also expressed an interest and said if there is a spot available count him in.

Will give you a call tonight to confirm everything.

Barry