Canton Market broke ground in Guangzhou's Huadu District on October 8, marking a major new step in Guangdong's efforts to expand international trade and investment cooperation.
Canton Market breaks ground on October 8 in Guangzhou.
Covering a planned area of 9.86 square kilometers, Canton Market will integrate trade, exhibitions, smart manufacturing, logistics and business services. Its international trade core, with a planned investment of 32.5 billion yuan, is expected to begin operation in about one year. The whole Canton Market complex will begin operation in 2028.
Aerial view of the planned Canton Market
Unlike a conventional wholesale market, Canton Market is designed as a year-round international business platform. Global buyers will be able to source products, meet suppliers, develop prototypes, arrange production and ship goods worldwide within one integrated complex.
Canton Market location map
Connecting global business with Guangdong manufacturing
Canton Market will comprise an international trade core, a trade extension precinct, a smart manufacturing zone, a modern logistics zone and a transit-oriented development precinct.
International buyers will be able to select products in the trade area, move rapidly into customization and production in the nearby manufacturing zone, and complete customs clearance and global delivery through the logistics zone.
An aerial view in Huadu District
This model will reduce the time and cost traditionally involved in traveling between exhibitions, factories and logistics facilities. It will also give overseas businesses direct access to Guangdong's strong manufacturing base and supply chains.
Priority sectors include digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, fashion and consumer goods, technology and electronics, international logistics and professional services.
Strategic location and one-stop services
Canton Market is approximately a five-minute drive from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and a 15-minute drive from Guangzhou North Railway Station. Central Guangzhou can be reached in about 30 minutes, while major Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities are accessible within approximately one to two hours.
Plans include an inland dry port with on-site customs services, as well as an integrated government service center, a digital trade platform and dedicated cross-border foreign-exchange settlement tools. These services are intended to reduce operating costs and make sourcing, customs clearance, logistics and international payments more efficient.
New opportunities for international investors
Canton Market offers international companies opportunities in commercial development, exhibition services, digital platforms, market operations, smart manufacturing, logistics and supply-chain management. It will also provide overseas brands with a new platform for entering the Chinese market.
The project's global investment promotion event on October 8 generated 154 strategic cooperation projects and 71 representative initiatives signed on site. They included cooperation involving Hannover Milano Best Exhibitions, Singapore's Keppel Corporation and Japan's ITOCHU Corporation.
As of September 2026, Canton Market had engaged with more than 200 companies and industry associations. Letters of intent had been signed with 103 enterprises, representing demand for more than 300,000 square meters of commercial space.
By combining market access, manufacturing capacity, efficient logistics and one-stop business services, Canton Market aims to become a year-round gateway connecting global companies with Guangdong—and a new platform for international investment and long-term cooperation.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photos | Xinhua, Nanfang Plus, Huadu District official
