Use trade fairs for discovery and comparison
A fair such as Canton Fair can expose buyers to many products, suppliers and price ranges in a short time.
It is useful when you are still exploring categories, collecting contacts or comparing market direction.
Use factory visits for deeper verification
A factory visit is better when you already have shortlisted suppliers and need to check production, samples, communication and quality discipline.
It can also reveal whether the supplier is a manufacturer, trading company or a partner with outsourced production.
Combine both when the trip is important
For many serious buyers, the strongest plan is to visit a fair first, shortlist leads, then schedule supplier or factory visits nearby.
Local planning helps connect fair halls, supplier addresses, transport and follow-up without wasting days.