Overview
Guangdong province is the densest furniture and lighting manufacturing region a buyer can visit in one trip. We plan the route, book the factories, travel with you and follow the order through to delivery in the UAE or GCC.
- Main clusters
- Foshan · Dongguan · Zhongshan Guzhen
- Key fair
- CIFF Guangzhou, March 2027
- Gateway city
- Guangzhou
- Good for
- Case goods, upholstery, lighting, outdoor
Where the factories are
The Pearl River Delta clusters are close enough to cover several in one trip.
Foshan, Shunde (Lecong and Longjiang)
Guangdong’s main furniture manufacturing and wholesale base: case goods, upholstery and loose furniture, with very large furniture markets in Lecong.
Dongguan, Houjie
Higher-end and export-oriented furniture makers.
Zhongshan, Guzhen
China’s lighting town: decorative and architectural lighting makers, components and showrooms.
What a China trip is good for
Guangdong suits projects with large quantities and custom pieces: guestroom case goods, upholstered seating, banquet and F&B furniture, outdoor furniture and decorative lighting. Factories here are used to working from designers’ drawings and to export packing.
The challenge is choice. Markets in Foshan show thousands of products, but the showroom is not always the factory. We take you to the production floor, where capacity, materials and finishing can be checked.
- Custom case goods and joinery from drawings
- Upholstery with fire-rated fabrics and foams
- Decorative and architectural lighting in Guzhen
- Outdoor and F&B furniture in volume
Lighting in Zhongshan Guzhen
Guzhen is a town whose industry is mostly lighting. For chandeliers, decorative pendants and custom fittings it is efficient to see many makers in one or two days, then shortlist the ones that can build to your drawings and certification needs.
Lighting is often combined with a Foshan furniture trip: the two clusters are both in the Pearl River Delta.
What we handle
Route planning
Factories, showrooms and fairs grouped by city so travel days are short and every visit has a purpose.
Pre-screened factories
Suppliers checked for the category, contract experience, capacity and export record before you visit.
Interpreting and negotiation
Technical questions asked in the room, in the supplier’s language where needed, and answers written down.
One visit record
Photos, prices, MOQs, lead times and sample requests captured per supplier and shared after each day.
Staged QC
Pre-production approval, during-production and pre-shipment inspections, and container loading checks.
Freight to the UAE and GCC
Consolidation with your other suppliers, shipping, customs clearance and delivery through our logistics partners.
A sample three-day route
Day 1
Markets and benchmarking
Furniture markets and showrooms in Foshan to benchmark styles, finishes and prices against your brief.
Day 2
Factory floors
Shortlisted factories: production lines, materials, finishing, packing and capacity for your quantities.
Day 3
Samples, lighting and quotes
Finish samples and prototypes agreed, a Guzhen lighting day if needed, and quotations requested in a common format.
Custom projects usually need more than one day at the factories. We adjust the route to your categories and dates.
Fairs in Guangzhou
| Fair | Where | Next dates |
|---|---|---|
| CIFF Guangzhou, phase 1 | Canton Fair Complex, Pazhou | 18–21 Mar 2027: home furniture, décor, home textiles, outdoor |
| CIFF Guangzhou, phase 2 | Canton Fair Complex, Pazhou | 28–31 Mar 2027: office and commercial space, with interzum guangzhou |
| Canton Fair (spring session) | Canton Fair Complex, Pazhou | Usually April, in phases (furniture and décor in phase 2); confirm 2027 dates with the organiser |
Dates checked on 13 Nov 2026 against organiser websites. Organisers can change dates; we confirm before any booking.
Frequently asked questions
Should I visit during CIFF or outside the fair?
During CIFF you see many suppliers quickly, but factories are busy. Many buyers attend the fair and then spend two or three days at the factories they shortlisted.
Is the showroom the factory?
Not always. Many showrooms in Foshan’s markets are traders. We confirm who actually makes the product and visit the production floor before you order.
What duty applies when importing furniture from China to the UAE?
The UAE generally charges 5% customs duty on the CIF value, plus 5% VAT. Some goods of Chinese origin may qualify for reduced duty under the UAE–China trade agreement with a valid certificate of origin; we check this per product before shipping.
Do I have to buy from the factories we visit?
No. The trip is there to help you decide. You choose which suppliers go forward, and we only issue purchase orders on your instruction.
Can you run the procurement after the trip?
Yes. Most clients ask us to negotiate, place the orders, follow production, inspect, consolidate and deliver, so one team is accountable from the factory floor to the site.
Can you visit factories for me if I cannot travel?
Yes. We can visit on your behalf with a video call from the factory floor, and send photos, measurements and a written report of each visit.
Plan a China sourcing trip
Share your product list, drawings or a mood board, your dates and the cities you want to cover. The Dubai team replies with a proposed route and next steps. Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Gulf Standard Time). Closed on Sunday.