Canton Market sourcing guides
The Guangzhou sourcing guide library
This Guangzhou sourcing guide hub collects everything we know about buying wholesale here — not just where to buy, but how: verifying suppliers, inspecting quality, paying safely, decoding shipping terms, and writing RFQs that get answered. Six playbooks, written for first-time buyers and useful as checklists for veterans.
The Master Playbook
The 6-step overview: pick the right market, negotiate MOQs, pay safely, inspect, and ship in one consolidated load.
Supplier Verification Checklist
License checks, factory-vs-trader tells, and red flags — vet a supplier before any money moves.
QC Inspection Guide
AQL sampling basics and a 4-step inspection flow, so the bulk batch matches the approved sample.
Payment Methods & Safety
T/T, Trade Assurance, and the 30%-deposit convention — pay in ways you can always trace.
Incoterms Basics
EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP compared in one table — know exactly where the seller’s job ends and yours begins.
RFQ Email Templates
Four copy-paste RFQ emails in English and Chinese — sound like a serious buyer from the first message.
First trip to Guangzhou?
Read the Master Playbook, then theverification checklist. Pair them with our market directory to shortlist two or three markets before you fly.
Buying remotely?
Start with payment safety andQC inspection, then use the RFQ templates to open supplier conversations properly.
Quoting landed cost?
The Incoterms guide tells you what a quote includes. Run the numbers through our free landed cost calculator before you commit.
Sourcing guide FAQ
Which guide should I read first?+
Start with the Master Playbook — it maps the full journey from choosing a market to consolidated shipping. Then go deep on whichever step worries you most: most first-time buyers go to supplier verification and payment safety next.
Do I need to visit Guangzhou in person to use these guides?+
No. Every guide covers the remote-buyer path: verifying suppliers over video, paying traceably, requiring QC photos or a third-party inspection, and consolidating through an agent. Visiting helps, but it is optional.
How often are these guides updated?+
We review each guide at least quarterly and after any major market or policy change. The review date is shown on each page — if a price band or procedure looks dated, verify it before acting.
Need a sourcing agent on the ground?
Guides get you 80% of the way. For the last 20% — stall visits, QC, consolidation — generate an instant sourcing brief with matched markets and next steps.
Ask for sourcing help →Keep exploring:15 wholesale markets·free sourcing tools·Commercial Port hub