Trade Shows for Pet Products in China: Canton Fair, CIPS and More

The fastest way to qualify a dozen Chinese pet products factories in a single week is to attend one of the major Chinese trade shows. You walk the aisles, you meet the sales managers in person, you touch the physical product, you compare displays side by side, and you leave with a shortlist of qualified suppliers that would have taken you two months to assemble remotely. This article lists the main pet products trade shows in China and explains what to expect, how to prepare, and how to extract maximum value from a 3-day visit. Written from Hefei, China, by Eviehome (Hefei Ecologie Vie Home Technology Co., Ltd.), where we exhibit at CIPS every year.

The 5 trade shows that matter for pet products buyers

1. CIPS — China International Pet Show

The main dedicated pet products trade show in China. Runs in Shanghai every August at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre. Typical edition: 2 500 exhibitors, 150 000 visitors, 250 000 square meters of floor space. About 30 percent of the exhibitors are smart pet electronics (automatic litter boxes, feeders, fountains, cameras, GPS trackers). The rest is split between pet food, pet accessories, grooming equipment and veterinary supplies. For a B2B buyer focused on smart pet products, CIPS is the single highest-value show of the year.

2. Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair)

The largest general-purpose trade show in China, held twice a year (April and October) in Guangzhou. Phase 3 of Canton Fair (typically late October or late April) covers consumer goods including pet products. Expect 25 000+ exhibitors across all phases. The pet products section is smaller and less focused than CIPS, but Canton Fair is still worth attending if you are sourcing multiple product categories beyond pet or if you want the overall market pulse of Chinese manufacturing.

3. Pet Fair Asia

Shanghai, August, overlaps with CIPS in the same week. Smaller than CIPS but more international in exhibitor profile, with more European and US brands sourcing from China. Good for networking with other international B2B buyers, not just suppliers.

4. Global Pet Expo Guangzhou

Guangzhou, typically September. Smaller regional show focused on the Pearl River Delta factories. Useful if you are sourcing from Guangdong specifically or if you want to combine the show with factory visits in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan.

5. Zoomark International (Bologna)

Not in China but worth mentioning: Zoomark is the main European pet products show, held biannually in Bologna, Italy. Many Chinese manufacturers exhibit at Zoomark as a way to meet European buyers on European soil. If you are a European buyer who cannot travel to China, Zoomark is your proxy.

How to prepare for a 3-day trade show visit

Before you go

• Define your sourcing brief. Write down the 2 to 4 specific product categories you want to source, your target volume, your target price range, your required certifications and your must-have customization. Without a brief, you will wander the show and collect 80 business cards with no actionable shortlist.
• Pre-schedule meetings with 3 to 5 priority factories. Email the exhibitors’ foreign trade teams 2 to 3 weeks before the show to book 30-minute meetings at their booth. Without pre-scheduled meetings, the sales managers are pulled in 20 directions and you get the junior staff instead of the decision-makers.
• Print 100 business cards. Chinese B2B culture expects business card exchange on every first meeting. Running out of cards on day 2 makes you look amateur.
• Download WeChat and set up your account. WeChat is the default business communication tool in China. Every sales manager will scan your QR code at the end of the meeting. Without WeChat, follow-ups are much slower.
• Arrange your Chinese mobile data. Most Chinese apps and services (Maps, WeChat, payment) work best with a Chinese SIM or an international eSIM that works inside China. VPN for Western services if you need Gmail or Google.

During the show

• Day 1: scout. Walk the full relevant pavilion. Pick up catalogs. Note the 10 to 15 booths that look most promising. Do not commit to long meetings on day 1.
• Day 2: deep dive. Spend 30 to 60 minutes each at the top 5 booths from your day 1 shortlist. Bring specific questions, compare specs, ask for technical literature, request quotes.
• Day 3: close. Re-visit the 2 or 3 top candidates. Negotiate commercial terms verbally. Book factory visits for the week after the show if possible. Finalize your shortlist.

After the show

• Send a follow-up email within 48 hours to every factory you met. Reference the meeting date, the product discussed and the next steps (sample request, RFQ, video call).
• Save WeChat contacts with meaningful names. “Eviehome Ryan CIPS Shanghai Aug 2025” is better than “Ryan Lau”.
• File the catalogs and business cards systematically. In 6 months you will want to retrieve them.

Who should attend a trade show vs who should not

Trade shows are worth the cost (flights, hotel, entry badge, 3 to 5 working days) for:

• First-time B2B buyers qualifying their first supplier in a new category
• Existing buyers looking to add 2 to 3 new product lines to their catalog
• Buyers who need to deepen a relationship with an existing supplier by meeting the management team in person
• Buyers who need to identify new private-label opportunities in an emerging category

They are NOT worth the cost for:

• Buyers who already have a stable supplier and a mature product line
• Buyers who only need a small one-off order and can do it entirely remotely
• Buyers whose product category is not well represented at the show

Realistic cost of attending CIPS as a B2B buyer

• Round-trip economy flight from Europe or US East Coast to Shanghai: USD 900 to 1 800
• Hotel near the exhibition center (3 to 4 nights, 3-star): USD 120 to 250 per night
• Entry badge (free for qualified B2B buyers with advance registration)
• Local transport (taxi, subway): USD 100 to 200 for the week
• Meals and incidentals: USD 150 to 300 for the week
• Business card printing: USD 30 for 100 cards
• Total: USD 1 500 to USD 3 500 per person for the week

Against a potential order value of USD 50 000 to USD 500 000 that can come from the supplier relationships you build at the show, the ROI is obvious if you prepare properly.

Eviehome at trade shows

Eviehome exhibits our smart pet products line at CIPS Shanghai every August. Our booth displays the full range of automatic cat litter boxes, smart feeders, pet water fountains, air purifiers and GPS trackers. We welcome scheduled meetings with serious B2B buyers: send an email to Ryan Lau 2 to 3 weeks before the show to book a time slot, and we can also arrange a factory visit to Hefei the week after CIPS (2 hour high-speed train from Shanghai).

See our verified buyer reviews page for the trade show photos of our booth and our exhibition team in action.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to attend a trade show in China?

Short answer: yes, most nationalities need a Chinese business (M) visa. Apply at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country 2 to 4 weeks before the trip. The organizer usually provides an invitation letter on request which speeds up the application. Since 2023, China has re-introduced visa-free transit for citizens of several countries for visits up to 15 days, including for trade show attendance.

Which trade show is best for smart pet products specifically?

CIPS Shanghai in August. Canton Fair Phase 3 as a secondary option if you cannot make CIPS. Zoomark Bologna if you cannot travel to China.

Can I combine the trade show with a factory visit?

Yes, and we strongly recommend it. Book the factory visits for the week after the trade show. Most serious Chinese suppliers are happy to host you at their factory after meeting you at the show. Eviehome factory in Hefei is 2 hours by high-speed train from Shanghai, so it fits easily into a CIPS trip.

How do I get the free B2B buyer badge?

Pre-register on the show’s official website (cipscom.com for CIPS, cantonfair.org.cn for Canton Fair) at least 2 weeks before the show. You need to provide your company details, your business card and a short description of your sourcing interest. Approval is usually same-day.

About Eviehome

Eviehome (Hefei Ecologie Vie Home Technology Co., Ltd.) exhibits at CIPS Shanghai every year. Based in Hefei, China since 2014. See our verified buyer reviews page with trade show photos, our OEM and ODM services page and our contact page.

To schedule a meeting at CIPS or a factory visit in Hefei, contact Ryan Lau at ryanlau@eviehometech.com or on WhatsApp at +86 199 5653 0913.