China sourcing
Buyers at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou and in the Yiwu and Shenzhen markets.
Industry · Retail and e-commerce
Travel management for retail and e-commerce companies
Retailers and online sellers in Pakistan source much of their range abroad, especially in China and Dubai. Their travel is about markets and fairs, supplier visits and quality checks, with tight budgets and a need to move fast.
Travel patterns
How retail and e-commerce organisations in Pakistan travel
Dubai trading
Buyers visiting Dubai’s trading districts and wholesalers.
Supplier and QC visits
Quality and buying teams visiting factories before and after orders.
What matters
What a retail and e-commerce travel programme needs
- China visas planned around the Canton Fair phases
- Hotels near the fair or market, booked early
- Multi-city routes such as Guangzhou, Yiwu and Shenzhen
- Payment and app set-up advice for China
- Reports by category and buyer
Check before travel: visa rules, fees, processing times and event dates change without notice. This page was checked on 11 November 2026 against the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and the organisers’ websites linked from our fair guides. Confirm on the official source, or ask us to check for your trip, before you book anything non-refundable.
China
Markets and fairs in China
The Canton Fair in Guangzhou runs in spring and autumn phases; Yiwu has a vast small-commodities market; Shenzhen is the electronics hub. A Chinese business visa is applied for online and completed at the visa centre, with an invitation from a registered Chinese company. Our China guides cover each city and the fair calendar.
Dubai
Sourcing in Dubai
Dubai’s trading districts and wholesale markets serve buyers from across the region, and UAE visit visas are usually quicker than visas for China. Our Dubai and UAE visa guides set out the routes.
Quality
Supplier visits and quality checks
Before paying balances, many buyers visit factories or arrange third-party inspections. We plan short supplier trips around production dates.
Payments and apps
Getting ready for a China sourcing trip
Mainland China runs on mobile payments, and many apps common in Pakistan are usually not reachable on mainland networks. Before the trip, buyers should link an international card to a mobile wallet, download offline maps and translation apps, and keep invitation letters, hotel confirmations and supplier details as files on the phone. Business cards in English and Chinese, product photos and target prices make negotiations move quickly. Our China guides cover each of these points in more detail.
Plan currency and budgets in advance, and agree deposits with suppliers in writing.
How we work
How Go Global runs it
Policy
Buying calendar and categories.
Approvals
Approvals per sourcing trip.
Booking
Fairs, markets and supplier visits.
On the road
Our team works 24/7 for changes and disruptions.
Reporting
Spend and trip records by team, project and traveller.
FAQ
Retail and e-commerce travel questions
When is the Canton Fair?
See our Canton Fair guide for the phases and dates checked against the organiser.
Do I need a visa for China?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders need a Chinese visa before travel.
Can one trip cover Guangzhou, Yiwu and Shenzhen?
Yes, by rail and short flights.
Is Dubai easier than China for sourcing?
UAE visit visas are usually quicker, but the range is different.
Keep reading
Related guides and services
Plan with Go Global
Planning travel for a retail and e-commerce organisation?
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.