Design innovation is giving traditional consumer goods a major upgrade at the ongoing third phase of the 140th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, where manufacturers of textiles, toys, and travel gear are showcasing smart new products to global buyers in Guangzhou.
Exhibitors at this year's fair are weaving heritage crafts and smart tech into everyday products. It's part of a broader push to move China's export sector beyond low-cost manufacturing toward original high-value design, shifting from "Made in China" to "Created in China".
Running from Saturday through Wednesday, the third phase spans 515,000 square meters, with 25,000 booths across 21 exhibition zones covering five major categories, from toys and baby products to fashion, home textiles, stationery, and health and leisure.
This phase brings together more than 12,000 companies, with innovation emerging as the common thread. Some 190 new-product launch events are planned across the five days, and the number of new products unveiled is up 15 percent.
Many exhibitors are drawing on traditional culture, incorporating intangible cultural heritage crafts and historical patterns into modern consumer goods.
Others are targeting real-life applications and looking for breakthroughs in practical features. One suitcase on display opens up into a mini wardrobe that can dry clothes, and its novel design has attracted many buyers.
"It's a brand new product. I think that it's brilliant, me as a mum to dry some clothes while I'm traveling. So it's brilliant," said Elsie Hinton, a buyer from New Zealand.
Many other products in the halls are designed around the distinct needs of different groups, down to the finest details. One ergonomic school backpack developed for teenagers spreads the weight of books across the shoulders, chest, hips and legs.
It fits snugly against the back and keeps the load from pulling downward, helping reduce strain and protect the spine.
Another product, a cooling vest, is made for people who work in the heat. It builds semiconductor cooling technology into clothing, with cooling modules and a fan at the bottom working together to lower body temperature and draw out heat and moisture. A control unit and a pocket for a power bank let wearers adjust the power supply.
The vest suits hot-weather jobs such as sanitation, logistics and outdoor inspection, and can also be worn for everyday outdoor activities, keeping users cool in high temperatures.
"Every time I come, I see different things. I find different suppliers, new ideas, more modern, more specialized, more developed [products]," said Jorge Pacheco, a buyer from Portugal.
The winners of the 2026 Canton Fair Design Award (CF Award) were also unveiled during the fair, with 222 products from 174 companies taking honors.
Among the winners, smart products make up 32 percent and green products 44 percent. The winning entries include AI glasses, smart wellness devices, photovoltaic energy-saving components and bio-based eco-friendly materials, covering home, office, outdoor and other settings. Together, they show exhibitors' steady progress in smart research and development and low-carbon techniques.
"Focusing on the highlights of companies' innovative designs, we have set up a display area for award-winning products, showing nearly 300 items. We are building a new trade promotion model that runs from showcasing results to matching suppliers with buyers, helping innovative designs reach global buyers and turn the edge in innovation into export orders," said Cai Jie, a staff member of the conference and forum division of the China Foreign Trade Centre.
The event runs in three phases from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Over the past 70 years, it has grown into China's largest and longest-running international trade event, featuring the broadest product range, largest buyer turnout and highest transaction volume, and it remains a key barometer of the country's foreign trade, drawing buyers from around the world each spring and autumn.
Third phase of 140th Canton Fair opens in Guangzhou with focus on smart consumer goods
