China Hi-Tech Fair 2026 Visa & Travel Guide for International Visitors

Quick Answer

The 28th China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) will be held in Shenzhen from November 26–28, 2026, at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District.

If you are coming from outside China, there are three things to sort out before your trip:

1. Register for CHTF.
2. Make sure you can enter Mainland China.
3. Plan how you will get to the exhibition center.

CHTF preregistration is free if completed before 12:00 noon on November 25, 2026. The official ticket notice says registration after that deadline costs RMB 120.

Some international visitors may also be able to attend CHTF using China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy instead of obtaining a Chinese visa in advance. This can be especially useful if Shenzhen is one stop in a trip that continues to Hong Kong or another country or region.

Check your itinerary with the Jadebound 240-hour transit checker →

China Hi-Tech Fair 2026 at a Glance

On narrow screens, scroll the event table sideways if needed.

The official CHTF English website confirms the event dates and venue and visitor hours. The preregistration deadline and RMB 120 late-registration fee are published in the official 2026 ticket notice (Chinese). Chrome can translate that page into English.

Can You Attend CHTF Using 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit?

Possibly.

China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy currently covers travelers from 57 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and many European countries. Short business visits are permitted under the policy, so attending a trade fair such as CHTF can fit the permitted activities. See the current NIA policy and nationality update.

The easiest way to understand the route requirement is:

Country or region A → Mainland China → different country or region B

For example:

On narrow screens, scroll the route table sideways to read both columns.

Those examples only show how the route rule works. Your passport, entry port, onward booking and other requirements still need to qualify.

For the full eligibility requirements, see our:

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide
or check your itinerary with the Jadebound transit checker.

U.S. passport holders are currently among the eligible nationalities. For more U.S.-specific information, see Do U.S. Citizens Need a Visa for China?

Combining Shenzhen and Hong Kong

Shenzhen's location next to Hong Kong makes CHTF particularly convenient for travelers who want to combine the fair with a Hong Kong visit.

Hong Kong can count as the country or region before or after Mainland China for the 240-hour transit route requirement.

For example:

U.S. → Shenzhen → Hong Kong

can meet the route requirement because you enter Mainland China from the United States and leave Mainland China for Hong Kong.

But:

U.S. → Hong Kong → Shenzhen → Hong Kong → U.S.

does not meet the route requirement. For your Mainland China visit, you arrived from Hong Kong and returned to Hong Kong.

This is why your flight or train connections matter — not just the country where your overall trip begins and ends.

If you plan to travel from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, have your confirmed Shenzhen-to-Hong Kong travel arrangements ready before entering China. Your later Hong Kong-to-U.S. flight is a separate part of the trip.

The Shanghai government FAQ on London → Shanghai → Hong Kong confirms Hong Kong's role in a qualifying route. For complete eligibility requirements, current entry ports and stay rules, see our China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide. See also the current NIA policy.

Flying Into Shenzhen Under the 240-Hour Policy

For most international visitors flying directly to CHTF, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is the most straightforward arrival point and is currently an eligible port under the 240-hour policy.

Travelers arriving from Hong Kong by train, ferry or land crossing should check their exact entry point before booking because the list of eligible Guangdong ports has changed over time.

See our China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide for the current list of eligible entry ports.

How to Register for China Hi-Tech Fair 2026

CHTF recommends registering before the event.

1. Go to the official CHTF visitor registration page.
2. Complete the registration form and questionnaire using your real identity information.
3. Use the same passport details you will travel with.
4. Save the electronic badge/QR confirmation after your registration is approved.
5. Bring your original passport to the exhibition.

The official English visitor guide says approved visitors can enter throughout the three-day event and instructs international visitors to use their passport for entry.

If you have trouble registering with an overseas phone number or passport, contact CHTF rather than guessing how to complete the form.

Visitor enquiry:
sarah@zhenweiexpo.com
WhatsApp: +86 15130613049

Register Before November 25 to Avoid the RMB 120 Fee

The official 2026 CHTF ticket notice says:

• Complete preregistration before 12:00 noon on November 25: free admission.
• Register after the deadline: RMB 120.
• Ticket registration closes at 3:00 PM on November 28.

The English CHTF pages do not currently repeat the RMB 120 fee information. See the Official CHTF 2026 ticket notice (Chinese).

The page can be translated into English using Chrome. Recheck the official notice before registering in case the rules change.

What Should International Visitors Bring to CHTF?

International visitors should bring:

• their original passport
• their electronic badge or QR confirmation
• any China visa or entry documents required for their trip

CHTF's English pages describe both passport scanning and QR-code entry. These instructions are not necessarily contradictory, so having both your original passport and electronic confirmation is the simplest approach.

If the scanner does not accept your passport or QR code, ask for assistance at the Overseas Visitors / visitor service desk.

Traveling With Children? Check With CHTF First

The official 2026 CHTF pages currently give conflicting information about visitors under 16.

The English admission page says visitors must be above 16. The Chinese admission page (Chinese) says visitors under 16 are not admitted. However, the official Chinese ticket notice (Chinese) says children under 16 may enter free with a guardian after signing an on-site waiver.

Because these instructions conflict, do not rely on any one of them when planning an international trip.

Contact CHTF directly before bringing anyone under 17.

Visitor enquiry:
sarah@zhenweiexpo.com
WhatsApp: +86 15130613049

Visitors over 70 are also advised by CHTF to attend with an accompanying adult and valid admission.

Do You Need a CHTF Invitation Letter?

If you need an invitation letter for a Chinese visa application, CHTF provides an official invitation-letter process.

The CHTF website instructs visitors to:

1. Download the official invitation template.
2. Complete the requested information.
3. Email it to sarah@zhenweiexpo.com.
4. CHTF can sign and stamp the invitation.

See the official English CHTF Visa Information page.

An invitation letter does not guarantee that a Chinese visa will be issued. CHTF also does not publish a guaranteed processing time, so request the letter well before your visa appointment.

Where Is China Hi-Tech Fair Held?

CHTF 2026 will be held at:

Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao'an)
No. 1 Zhancheng Road
Fuhai Street, Bao'an District
Shenzhen, China

Chinese address:

深圳市宝安区福海街道和平社区展城路1号

Do not confuse Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an with the older Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center in Futian. They are different venues in different parts of Shenzhen.

Getting to CHTF From Shenzhen Bao'an Airport

Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) is the most convenient airport for the exhibition center.

The venue's official transportation information places Shenzhen World about 7 km from Terminal 3.

By Metro

From Shenzhen Airport Terminal 3:

Line 11 → Airport North → transfer to Line 20 → Shenzhen World

For the South Lobby:
use Shenzhen World Station, Exit C1 or C2.

For the North Lobby:
use Shenzhen World North Station, Exit C1 or C2.

Metro Lines 12 and 20 both serve the exhibition center. See the Shenzhen government Metro information.

What If You Fly Into Hong Kong?

Hong Kong International Airport may offer better flight options for some international travelers, but reaching CHTF from Hong Kong adds a border crossing.

If you are relying on the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, decide how you will enter Mainland China before booking your Hong Kong transfer, because your Hong Kong → Shenzhen route becomes part of your immigration itinerary.

See Combining Shenzhen and Hong Kong and check your itinerary with the Jadebound transit checker.

Where Should You Stay?

Near Shenzhen World / Bao'an

This is the easiest choice if CHTF is the main purpose of your trip. Look for a hotel near Shenzhen World or a convenient Line 12/20 Metro station.

When booking, verify that the hotel is near Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an, not the convention center in Futian.

Nanshan or Futian

Nanshan and Futian can make sense if you also have business meetings or sightseeing elsewhere in Shenzhen, but your daily trip to CHTF will be longer.

Check the Metro route before booking rather than choosing a hotel based only on the word “Shenzhen.”

Staying in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is better treated as another stop on the trip than as a daily CHTF base.

Crossing the border every morning and evening adds time and immigration formalities. If you are using 240-hour visa-free transit, leaving Mainland China also ends that particular entry, so do not assume you can simply cross back and forth under the same permission.

CHTF 2026 Travel Checklist

• Register for CHTF before November 25 at noon if possible.
• Save your electronic badge/QR confirmation.
• Bring your original passport.
• Confirm whether you need a Chinese visa or can use a visa-free policy.
• If using 240-hour transit, check your complete route with the Jadebound checker.
• Confirm the exact Mainland China entry point if arriving from Hong Kong.
• Save the venue's English and Chinese addresses.
• Check which exhibition hall you need before choosing a Metro station or hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your CHTF Trip

Planning to use China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy for your Shenzhen trip?

Check your itinerary with the Jadebound 240-hour transit checker →

Or read: China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide and Do U.S. Citizens Need a Visa for China?

Official Sources

• CHTF First Time Attendees — dates, venue and visitor registration.
• CHTF Notice on Visitor Badge — electronic badges, passport entry and visitor hours.
• CHTF English Admission Information and Chinese admission instructions (Chinese) — admission documents, age rules and visitor enquiries.
• Official CHTF 2026 ticket notice (Chinese) — deadline, RMB 120 fee and the conflicting children's admission rule.
• CHTF Visa Information — invitation-letter process.
• NIA current visa-free transit policy and August 2026 nationality and port update.
• Shanghai government FAQ: Does my London-Shanghai-Hong Kong journey qualify for the 240-hr visa-free transit?
• Shenzhen World official transportation information.
• Shenzhen government Metro information.