China Buying Trip · 采购之旅
The China Buying Trip: visit vetted factories with a team that runs it for you.
Factory visits, interpreter, negotiation and logistics, planned around your project. You make the decisions on the ground.
- Planned around your project and categories
- Interpreter and private transport throughout
- Logistics support after you are home
Call +61 7 3392 1421 or 1300 168 869
20+ years
company-reported
Events
What is on
Recap
Canton Fair VIP Tour
22 to 29 October 2026
Guangzhou and Foshan
13 client groups joined us at the Canton Fair in October 2026. Register interest for April 2027.
Why this matters now
Three things that cost you margin
1
Choosing a factory from photos is a gamble
Emails and listings tell you very little about who will actually build your order.
2
Language and market knowledge
Without either, you cannot judge a quote, a sample or a promise.
3
Weeks lost to follow-ups
Decisions drag on while messages cross time zones.
Construction sourcing is now a global price check. Your local suppliers know it. Material costs are up, margins are tight, and a single supplier can hold your programme. The answer is not the cheapest quote. It is a second, controlled supply line that runs alongside your local one, used selectively in the categories that move your margin.
What managed means
A trip for validation, not tourism
You do not import. We run the sourcing for you: shortlist and vet factories, translate and negotiate, approve samples, inspect before shipment, and coordinate freight and customs to your site. You keep control of every decision. We carry the detail.
Pre-trip planning
Itinerary and factory shortlist built around your categories.
On the ground
Interpreter, private transport and factory visits with a senior guide.
Canton Fair entry
Where the trip timing includes the fair.
After the trip
Negotiation, production monitoring and logistics to your site.
Our 8-step process
- 1Discovery and feasibility review
- 2Product list and sourcing strategy
- 3Supplier research and vetting
- 4Itinerary or remote sourcing plan
- 5Negotiation and order placement
- 6Production monitoring and QA
- 7Pre-shipment and logistics
- 8Delivery and long-term supply chain
Read next:Engagement and feesHow we vet suppliersCase studies
How long the trip is
An 8-day guided sourcing trip in total, with 5 to 7 days on the ground in China and accommodation for 5 nights included. Flights are not included.
What is included and what is not
Flights are not included. Everything else is planned with you before you travel.
- Included: pre-trip planning, itinerary, interpreter, private transport, factory visits, Canton Fair entry where relevant, post-trip logistics
- Not included: flights
Next departure
The next Canton Fair window is spring 2027. Register interest and we will confirm dates as soon as they are set. Applications are assessed before approval.
Proof
From people who have done it
“My experience on the China Direct Sourcing China Buying Trip was fantastic. It was incredibly valuable to see firsthand what's available and to get a real feel for the opportunities in China. Charmaine did an excellent job guiding us.”
Your guide
Lindy Chen founded ChinaDirect Sourcing in 2005. She is Mandarin-speaking, on the ground in China and based in Brisbane, and she leads every buying trip and VIP tour herself.
Frethan: My Supply Chain is the platform behind the process. Orders, suppliers and documents in one place, so you can see where every order stands.
Questions
What people ask first
Who is the trip for?
Builders and developers with a live project or specific categories to source.
Is it a group trip or a private one?
Both are possible. See our VIP Sourcing Tour for a private itinerary.
Do I need to speak Mandarin?
No. An interpreter is with you throughout.
What happens after the trip?
We negotiate, monitor production, inspect before shipment and coordinate freight to your site.
How long does it take?
About 6 to 8 weeks from the end of the China trip to delivery on site: production 2 to 4 weeks, sea freight about 3 weeks, customs and delivery about 1 week. Production time depends on the product category.
Is it risky?
The risk is not China. The risk is doing it without a system. Shortlisted factories are vetted before you meet them, samples are approved before production, and goods are inspected before they ship.
Next step
See the factory before you commit to the order.
Apply now and we will be in touch within one business day.
Applications are assessed before approval. Tell us about your project.
- 1. We review your details today.
- 2. Ann or Lindy's team replies within one business day.
- 3. Bring a bill of materials or your top three categories.
Sales line: +61 7 3392 1421
Ready when you are
The form is at the top of the page.
Figures marked company-reported are ChinaDirect Sourcing's own figures.
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