The China Journal
Expert Guides for Indian Importers
Master the Canton Fair, navigate Chinese business visas, discover hidden wholesale markets in Yiwu & Shenzhen, and source directly from manufacturers with confidence.
One Guide for Each Subject
Canton FairThe fair, phase by phase140th Canton Fair 2026 Guide for Indian Importers
China VisaThe M visa, from papers to passportChina Business Visas for Indian Companies: Sponsoring Directors and Staff
Wholesale MarketsInside China's wholesale marketplacesWhat Can You Buy from Yiwu Market? (Top Goods)
Import GuideFrom supplier to customs in IndiaHow to Find Reliable Chinese Manufacturers
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50 guides in all. The newest 12 are here; older guides are on the numbered pages.
12 articles
BIS Certification for China Imports: Which Products Need It and Who Gets ItFor many electronics, toys and household goods, the BIS licence decides whether a product from China can be imported at all. This guide explains the schemes, why the Chinese factory must hold the licence for your exact model, how customs enforces it, and how to check a supplier's number before you pay.- Canton Fair Mistakes Indian Buyers Make, and How to Avoid ThemMost expensive Canton Fair mistakes are made in India, weeks before the flight: the wrong phase, a visa started too late, a product that cannot be imported. This guide lists twelve mistakes first-time Indian buyers make before, during and after the fair, with the official rules that apply to the 140th session.
- China Business Visa Processing Time from India: About 3–5 WeeksPlan for about 3–5 weeks from filing to visa in hand: 2–3 working days to submit, at least about 2 weeks for approval and 1–2 weeks more for the visa sticker. What express changes, what slows it down, and when to start before a Canton Fair session or a factory trip.
- China Business Visa Rejection: Why Applications Are Refused or ReturnedMost China business visa problems are not refusals but files returned for a fixable reason: a photo, a missing signature on the inviter's licence, or details that do not match. This guide sets out what Chinese law and the embassy in India actually say about refusals, the checks that catch most problems, and what to do if your application is refused.
- China Import Documents Checklist for Indian Importers (2026)Most clearance delays start with one missing or mismatched paper. This checklist lists what you register once, what the supplier sends with every shipment, what your broker files and when, and the product permits that apply to some goods, with the official source for each.
- Chinese Supplier Scams: Red Flags Indian Importers Should CheckThe Embassy of India in Beijing keeps a list of Chinese firms Indian businesses have reported in trade disputes, and an advisory on how to avoid becoming one of those cases. This guide turns that advisory and China's own company registry into the red flags to check, and the steps that protect your money.
- FOB vs EXW for China Imports: Which Term an Indian Importer Should UseA Chinese supplier's EXW price looks cheaper than its FOB price because it leaves more of the work, cost and risk with you, including Chinese export clearance, which a buyer without a company in China cannot do itself. This guide explains the difference under Incoterms 2020, where FCA fits, and how each term changes the customs value in India.
- Importing From China for Beginners: Your First Order, Step by StepYour first import from China is mostly about doing things in the right order: register, check whether the product can be imported and what it costs landed, test samples, pay safely, ship and clear. This guide walks a first-time importer through ten steps, with the official source for each rule.
Yiwu or Guangzhou: Which Should an Indian Buyer Visit First?Yiwu is one huge market of small-quantity, mixed-product trading; Guangzhou is a city of specialist wholesale markets with the factories of the Pearl River Delta and the Canton Fair behind it. This guide compares them for an Indian buyer: products, how buying works, getting there, and how to choose.- 140th Canton Fair 2026 Guide for Indian ImportersPlanning your trip to the 140th Canton Fair from India? Here is the definitive 2026 handbook covering October 15–November 4, 2026 phase dates, M-Visa processing, the upgraded Buyer Service System, and on-ground secrets to finding verified Chinese manufacturers.
- Air vs Sea Freight from China to India: Transit TimesThe four ways goods move from China to India, what each costs to use, how many days each takes from the factory to your warehouse, and a simple rule for choosing between them.
Canton Fair 2026 Cost from India: Complete Budget & Expense BreakdownPlanning your Canton Fair 2026 travel budget from India? Here is an itemized cost analysis covering flights, surge hotel rates, M-visa fees, daily expenses, and an interactive budget calculator.
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