Overseas buyers take a photo at the Canton Fair venue held in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province on April 19, 2026. Photo: VCG

Standing in the middle of a massive crowd, all waiting eagerly to play badminton with a humanoid robot at the 139th Canton Fair, I couldn’t help but recall the star products of previous sessions. From traditional machinery and light industrial goods to new-energy vehicles (NEVs), and now to cutting-edge intelligent equipment – the transformation is striking.

Covering every Canton Fair – held biannually – since the 128th session in October 2020, I have witnessed the journey firsthand: From Chinese manufacturing to Chinese intelligent manufacturing, and finally to Chinese creation.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period, the Canton Fair was still dominated by traditional light industry, and basic mechanical and electrical products. China’s export strength mainly lay in its massive scale. The exhibits embodied the confidence of a “manufacturing powerhouse.”

After entering the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, the “new trio” – NEVs, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products – quickly took center stage from the 129th to the 138th sessions. Green, low-carbon, and independent technologies became the new buzzwords. A group of globally competitive Chinese brands began to emerge, signaling China’s industries were moving toward high-end, intelligent, and green development.

For example, at the 133rd session held in April 2023, the star product was an unmanned helicopter, which became a “must-visit” for global buyers. At that session, the new exhibition area D officially opened, with special zones for industrial automation equipment and intelligent NEVs.

As the first session held in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, the 139th Canton Fair has an all-encompassing technological aura. The center stage has been completely refreshed, with artificial intelligence (AI) terminals, low-altitude economy equipment, humanoid robots, smart wearables, and other frontier products.

Service robots on display are super busy. A humanoid robot of Ti5 Robot waves to global purchasers more than 7,000 times every day. The robotic coffee maker of COFE+ brews about 800 cups of coffee every day as global buyers rush to experience the latest innovation. Many buyers also make video calls with their families or even livestream while waiting for the robot of Dobot to make ice cream for them.

The exhibition hall for service robots was one of the most popular ones. Due to the overwhelming number of visitors, the exhibition hall had to limit the number of people allowed inside at the same time. The queue to enter the hall could be as long as three lines of 30 meters each.

Many global buyers said that they experience some “tech shocks” at the Canton Fair each time. The technological progress in China is impressive. 

From competing on scale to competing on innovation, from catching up to leading – this evolution of exhibits reflects China’s step-by-step progress in science and technology. 

If you compare the newcomers and veteran exhibitors, such advancement is even more obvious.

There are many first-time exhibitors at each session. They usually represent the future of China’s technology sector and foreign trade, showcasing innovative technologies and fresh ideas.

Take ZXMOTO, a first-time exhibitor at the 139th edition. The company brought its championship motorcycle models and became a sensation. A Singaporean buyer told reporter while waiting at the booth: “I never imagined a Chinese brand could enter the motorcycle market and become the world’s No.1.” The buyer aimed at securing the agency rights for ZXMOTO in Singapore and Cambodia.

If newcomers represent the future, then the veteran companies that continued to launch upgraded products represent the journey of perseverance and self-improvement.

These long-time exhibitors, with their complete supply chains and ability to keep up with technological trends, have successfully completed their intelligent transformation while maintaining the solid foundation of Chinese manufacturing.

One exhibitor who has attended 40 sessions of the Canton Fair shared his story. Twenty years ago, his company was producing irons as an original equipment manufacturer for German clients. Now, at the 139th session, his former German partners are competing to secure exclusive European distribution rights for his company’s smart steam irons and AI-powered fully automatic coffee machines.

He noted that the company has accumulated more than 2,600 patents, with more than 400 still valid – more than half of which are invention patents. This is not only the result of the company’s own research and development efforts but also a testament to the overall upgrading of China’s industrial and supply chains driven by national technological progress.

Countless exhibitors and overseas buyers have mentioned a same thing: What makes Chinese manufacturing truly irreplaceable is this unique combination of inheritance and innovation. With technology empowerment, customization, and intelligence, Chinese products continue to lead the global market.