Planning your first business trip to China can be stressful. Between navigating a new culture, visiting factories, managing time zones, and making sure your deals go smoothly — it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But with the right preparation, you can turn your trip into a productive and profitable experience.
Whether you’re sourcing products, negotiating contracts, or simply exploring business opportunities, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to survive (and thrive) on your first business trip to China.
1. Prepare Before You Go
Preparation is the difference between a trip filled with opportunities and one filled with stress.
- Do your research on cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Wenzhou each specialize in different industries. For example, Guangzhou is known for wholesale markets, while Yiwu is a hub for small commodities.
- Know your goals: Are you sourcing suppliers, meeting existing partners, or exploring the market? Your plan should reflect this.
- Get your documents in order: Business visas, invitation letters, and travel insurance should be sorted before you even book your flight.
Tip: I’ve created a Pre-Trip Guide that breaks down what you need, how to prepare, what to expect, and how to make the most of your trip.
For a breakdown of where to go: WHERE TO SHOP IN CHINA
2. Understand the difference between a supplier and a manufacturer
Knowing the difference between these will definitely influence how you trip is laid out.
Suppliers are typically resellers, who sell products as little to no MOQs, sourcing them from various factories. Manufacturers are factories that actually design and make products themselves, and sell in bulk at wholesale prices. Save this for easy access to this info later: BUSINESS TRIP TIPS
3. Understand Chinese Business Culture
Business in China is built on relationships (guanxi). Rushing into deals without building trust can hurt you long-term. Because you’re coming in from a different background, realize that you don’t know everything. Humility and patience goes a long way. Don’t lead with rudeness or abrasiveness.
4. Pick the right hotel
China has different standards so what may look/sound good online can turn out to be a nightmare. If you want to focus on your business activities, and not worry about where you are sleeping; choose a hotel that supports that. Free hotel recommendations here: HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
5. Don’t cut corners
Although China is known for cheap products, the whole country is not made of this. There are tiers of quality that are equally matched to their price. If you buy cheap, you will definitly pay for it later. Additionally, China has a well-running system that can easily snuff out anything that is non-compliant. Make sure all your documents and paperwork are done properly to avoid issues.
6. Get professional help
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to use professional services to help you pull everything off. China is massive and not easy to navigate. There are agencies dedicated to making business trips successful. If you’d like to enquire about our services - feel free to contact us!
All the best with your business journey! Hope to see you soon in China!