China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) 2026: Shenzhen Visitor Guide
By Ilyas Kerbal,
The China Hi-Tech Fair, known as CHTF, calls itself China’s number one tech fair, and it has the history to back the claim. First held in 1999 and approved by the State Council, it brings tech companies, universities, national labs and investors from more than 100 countries to Shenzhen every November. For B2B teams selling technology, components or services in China, the CHTF exhibitor list covers a wide slice of the market in a single place.
Here’s a practical overview of the 2026 fair and how to prepare for it.
Key facts about CHTF
| Industry | Technology |
| City | Shenzhen, China |
| Venue | Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao’an) |
| Dates | November, 27th edition 14–16 Nov 2025; 28th edition 26–28 Nov 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Moves between cities? | No, fixed in Shenzhen |
| Typical scale | ~300,000 attendees · ~4,000 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Free (registered professional visitors) |
| App / platform | Online registration + WeChat; matchmaking events |
| Official website | chtf.com |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official China Hi-Tech Fair website before you book travel.
What is the China Hi-Tech Fair?
Its full name is the China International Hi-Tech Achievements Fair. It works as three things at once: a showcase, a technology-transfer marketplace and an investment fair. It’s organised into more than 20 professional exhibition areas, including:
- Artificial intelligence, robotics and intelligent manufacturing
- Semiconductors and integrated circuits
- Consumer electronics, computing power and data
- The low-altitude economy (drones, eVTOL) and commercial spaceflight
- Energy storage, batteries and solar-storage-charging
- Biotech and high-end medical equipment
- Smart cities, rail transit and smart ports
- University and laboratory technology transfer
The breadth reflects Shenzhen’s position as China’s hardware and innovation capital.
CHTF has run in Shenzhen since 1999; this photo is from the 6th edition. Photo: wanghongliu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Dates and venue
| Edition | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 27th CHTF | 14–16 November 2025 | Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center |
| 28th CHTF | 26–28 November 2026 | Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center |
The venue is at No.1 Zhancheng Road in Bao’an District, close to Shenzhen Bao’an Airport. CHTF used to be held at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center in Futian and moved to the much larger Shenzhen World complex. It stays in Shenzhen, but Bao’an is a long way from the city centre, so choose your hotel accordingly.
Who attends
Around 300,000 visitors and about 4,000 exhibitors take part.
| Visitor | Goal | Relevant sellers |
|---|---|---|
| Tech executives and product managers | Components, partners, technology | Chip, module and software vendors |
| Procurement and sourcing professionals | Suppliers and pricing | Manufacturers, distributors |
| Investors and VCs | Deal flow via matching sessions | Startups, spin-outs |
| University and research tech-transfer teams | Licensees and industrial partners | Corporates, IP brokers |
| Government and provincial delegations | Investment, industrial projects | Industrial parks, consultancies |
| International buyers and media | Products and stories | Exporters, PR agencies |
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Registration
The visitor badge is free for professional visitors who register online at chtf.com or through the CHTF WeChat account. Registration is real-name, and foreigners use their passport. Once approved, you enter on all three days by scanning your passport. Group, media and investor registrations are also available.
Digital tools and matchmaking
There’s no dedicated app. Registration runs through chtf.com and the CHTF WeChat official account. The fair also runs a Global Procurement Matchmaking Conference and a Global Investment & Financing Matching Conference for pre-arranged meetings.
Those matchmaking sessions are worth using, but they cover a fraction of the 4,000 exhibitors. To prospect the rest, you need your own list, sorted by exhibition area and enriched with the people who make buying decisions.
Is CHTF worth it?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free entry for professional visitors | Broad focus, so less depth per niche |
| Very wide tech coverage in one venue | Many government and provincial pavilions |
| Strong research-institute participation | Bao’an is far from central Shenzhen |
| Built-in procurement and investment matchmaking | Mostly Chinese-language |
| Easy to combine with supply chain visits in Shenzhen | Some exhibits are showcase-only |
Same buyers, several shows a year? I can track the China Hi-Tech Fair audience alongside the other events on your calendar, so repeat prospects and new faces are easy to spot. Talk to me about China Hi-Tech Fair
A prospecting checklist for CHTF
- Narrow down to two or three exhibition areas. CHTF is too broad to “cover”; focus on your sectors.
- Separate commercial exhibitors from pavilions. Provincial pavilions are good for partnerships, less so for quick sales.
- Apply for the matchmaking conferences early. Slots are limited.
- Book factory or office visits around the fair. Shenzhen’s supply chain is the real bonus of the trip.
- Prepare WeChat contact details and a Chinese company profile.
- Upload your contacts to the CRM before you fly home.
FAQ
When is the China Hi-Tech Fair 2026?
The 28th CHTF is scheduled for 26 to 28 November 2026 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center.
Is CHTF free?
Yes, for professional visitors who register online with real-name details.
Does CHTF have an app?
No. Registration runs through chtf.com and the CHTF WeChat account.
How do I get the CHTF exhibitor list?
The website lets you browse, but not export with contact details. An enriched list built before the fair is the practical route.
Need China Hi-Tech Fair leads ready for your CRM?
Exhibiting or just walking the halls, the companies you want to meet at China Hi-Tech Fair are already registered. I can find them, enrich them with titles, company data and LinkedIn profiles, and deliver a file your team can work from straight away.
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Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (7) by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: 2004年第六届高交会 6th CHINA HI-TECH FAIR - panoramio by wanghongliu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
