China business travel guides from Pakistan
China is one of Pakistan’s most important trading partners, and most Pakistani business travel there is about sourcing, fairs and project meetings. Our guides cover six cities, the M visa route through the official online system, the fair calendar and the payments and apps every traveller needs to set up before flying.
Which Chinese city fits your trip
| City | Best for | Fly into |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Headquarters, banks, the port and CIIE | Pudong (PVG) |
| Beijing | Ministries, SOEs, policy banks and delegations | Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) |
| Guangzhou | The Canton Fair and southern manufacturing | Baiyun (CAN) |
| Shenzhen | Electronics supply chain, next to Hong Kong | Bao’an (SZX) or Hong Kong |
| Yiwu | Small-commodities wholesale market | Shanghai or Hangzhou, then rail |
| Urumqi | Overland trade and Central Asian links | Diwopu (URC) |
The Chinese visa route for Pakistani passport holders
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan moved visa applications online. Travellers complete the application on the official China Online Visa Application system and upload documents. After the “Online Visa Approved” email, they submit the passport and original documents at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore.
Jurisdiction matters: the Embassy in Islamabad covers Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab, and the Consulate-General in Karachi covers Sindh and Balochistan. The inviting company’s name must match its Chinese business licence exactly, a detail that causes many returned applications.
Plan the number of entries. A trip that crosses between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, or leaves and returns to the mainland, needs a double- or multiple-entry visa.
China city guides
Shanghai
Headquarters, CIIE, Pudong and Puxi.
Open guideBeijing
Government, SOEs and delegations.
Open guideShenzhen
Electronics and Hong Kong crossings.
Open guideYiwu
Small-commodities buying.
Open guideUrumqi
Overland trade via Khunjerab.
Open guideGuangzhou
The Canton Fair city.
Open guideChina business visa (M)
The invitation checklist.
Open guideHong Kong business visa
The separate visit visa.
Open guideCanton Fair guide
Phases and registration.
Open guideChina fairs Pakistani companies attend
| Fair | Dates | Guide or source |
|---|---|---|
| Canton Fair, spring session (Guangzhou) | 15–19 April, 23–27 April and 1–5 May 2027, in three phases | Canton Fair guide |
| HKTDC Electronics Fair, spring (Hong Kong) | 13–16 April 2027 | Hong Kong guide |
| China International Import Expo (Shanghai) | 5–10 November 2027 (10th CIIE) | official CIIE website |
| China Yiwu International Commodities Fair | Usually in the autumn; confirm on the organiser’s website | Yiwu guide |
Set up before you fly
Mainland China runs on mobile payments. Link an international card to a mobile wallet before travel and carry some cash as a back-up. Many apps common in Pakistan, including familiar search, maps and messaging services, are usually not reachable on mainland networks, so agree a contact plan, download offline maps and keep documents as files on the phone.
Business cards in English and Chinese, a translated product sheet and a local messaging app make supplier meetings much smoother.
Planning China trips, 24/7
Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, including Canton Fair delegations, sourcing trips and official visits. We check the invitation against the business licence, plan entries, flights, rail and hotels, and our team works 24/7 for travellers already in China.
China travel questions
Which visa do Pakistani business visitors to China use?
Most use the M (business) visa: apply online, then submit the passport at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore after online approval.
Does a China visa cover Hong Kong?
No. Hong Kong needs its own visit visa, and crossing back into the mainland uses another entry on the China visa.
How do payments work in China?
Mostly through mobile wallets. Link an international card before you fly and carry some cash.
Do these guides replace official advice?
No. Each guide lists its official sources and the date checked. Rules change, so we confirm them for every trip.
Planning a China business trip?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.