China International Industry Fair (CIIF) 2026

The China International Industry Fair (CIIF) is one of the largest and most significant industrial exhibitions in China. It has been held annually in Shanghai since 1999, bringing together manufacturers of industrial equipment, technologies and components, integrators and solution developers for modern manufacturing.

In 2026 CIIF will run on 12–16 October at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. The exhibition area will be around 300,000 m², and recent sessions have drawn more than 3,000 exhibitors and over 200,000 visitors from more than 80 countries.

CIIF's key feature is that it is not one specialised show but ten theme exhibitions united within a single industrial forum. In 2026 they cover nearly the entire modern manufacturing value chain:

• CNC machine tools and metalworking;
• industrial automation;
• robotics;
• smart energy;
• information and communication technologies;
• intelligent transport and new mobility;
• green and low-carbon technologies;
• new materials;
• technology innovation;
• integrated circuits and microelectronics.

All are accessible with a single badge. For a sourcing trip CIIF is especially valuable: it lets you run a broad supplier search and compare Chinese manufacturers across several adjacent fields in one trip — from individual components and equipment to complete automation solutions. Instead of visiting several specialised events in different cities, you can do much of the search in a single exhibition complex.

CIIF is sold as a single event but runs as ten specialised shows, each with its own halls. One badge admits you to all of them, and all ten run for the full five days — there are no separate phases to plan around, unlike the Canton Fair. Work out which halls matter to you before you arrive; the walk from Hall 4.1 to Hall 8.2 is a genuine 15 minutes.

• MWCS — Metalworking and CNC Machine Tool Show (Halls 2.1, 3, 4.1). The largest block of the fair. Turning and machining centres, grinding, EDM, sheet metal, cutting tools, workholding and metrology.
• IAS — Industrial Automation Show (Halls 1.1, 5.1, 6.1). Motion control, PLCs and drives, industrial sensors, machine vision, pneumatics and hydraulics, MES and industrial software.
• ES — Energy Show (Halls 1.1). Power generation and distribution equipment, energy storage, smart grid, motors and drives, energy management systems.
• RS — Robotics Show (Halls 7.1, 8.1, 8.2). Industrial arms, collaborative and mobile robots, AGV/AMR, end effectors, and complete robotic cells. One of Asia's largest robotics floors.
• NICE — Next-Gen IC Expo (Halls 5.2). Integrated circuits and semiconductors: design, wafer manufacturing, packaging and test, plus equipment and materials.
• ICTS — Information & Communication Technology Show (Halls 6.2). Industrial networking, 5G for manufacturing, edge and cloud platforms, digital twins and industrial data infrastructure.
• GLCS — Green Low-Carbon Show (Halls 6.2). Decarbonisation technology for industry: energy efficiency, emissions monitoring, hydrogen, recycling and clean production.
• STIS — Scientific & Technological Innovation Show (Halls 6.2). University and research-institute spin-outs, national labs and early-stage industrial technology looking for partners.
• NMIS — New Material Industry Show (Halls 7.2). Advanced alloys, composites, engineering plastics, coatings and surface treatment, plus specialty and electronic materials.
• FTIS — Future Transportation Industry Show (Halls 8.2). New-energy vehicle manufacturing, autonomous driving stacks, drivetrain and battery production technology.

Machine tool and metalworking buyers — Halls 2.1, 3 and 4.1. One of the key sections for foreign buyers of industrial equipment. Nearly every serious Chinese machine-tool builder exhibits here, alongside the Chinese operations of Japanese, German and Taiwanese brands. Handy for comparing manufacturers, technologies and price offers on comparable equipment in a single day.

Production automation and systems integrators — Halls 1.1, 5.1 and 6.1. Strong on drives, controllers, sensors and machine vision. A number of manufacturers and suppliers are ready to discuss OEM/ODM and solutions tailored to specific customer requirements.

Robotics and intralogistics — Halls 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2. A convenient place to compare competitive Chinese makers of industrial, collaborative and mobile robots, their components and turnkey automation solutions.

Materials and components sourcing — Hall 7.2 (new materials), Hall 5.2 (next-generation integrated circuits, semiconductors and microelectronics manufacturing technologies).

Less suited to buyers of consumer goods, textiles, furniture and food: CIIF is focused first and foremost on industrial production, equipment and technology. For these categories the Canton Fair or a specialised industry show will usually be more relevant.

Venue: National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), NECC Shanghai.
Name in Baidu Maps: 国家会展中心 (上海).

From Hongqiao Airport (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, SHA):
Taxi / Didi – ¥20–50, 5–10 min.
Metro – Line 2 to 国家会展中心 (National Exhibition and Convention Center) station, Exit 6, ~¥8, 15 min.

From Pudong Airport (Shanghai Pudong International Airport, PVG):
Taxi / Didi – ¥150–230, 60–70 min.
Metro – Line 2 to 国家会展中心 (National Exhibition and Convention Center) station, Exit 6, ~¥10, over 1.5 hours.

How foreigners can order a taxi, which apps to use and how to pay for the ride — we cover it in detail in our article “How to Use Taxis in China: A Detailed Guide for Foreigners”.

Where best to stay during the fair — we break it down below.

Register online in advance. Visitor registration opens on the official website ciif-expo.com a few months before the fair. Complete the pre-registration: you will receive a confirmation email/QR code, and you will collect the badge itself at the registration counter right at the fair. Bring the documents listed on ciif-expo.com to get your badge.

One badge covers all ten theme shows and all five days. Don't lose it — you will need it to get in on subsequent days.

On-site registration is possible but takes time. Pre-registration lets you cut the time spent on paperwork at the venue.

Business cards. Bring a good supply. If you are coming specifically to find Chinese suppliers, bilingual cards with a Chinese side are useful: company name, name, job title, phone, e-mail and a short description of what you do. This makes follow-up communication with managers after the fair much easier.

Visa. Entry rules depend on your nationality — check the current requirements for your passport before booking. Russian citizens get visa-free entry to China for up to 30 days, including for business trips. Longer stays require a visa.

Opening hours. Usually 9:30–17:00; on the last day the fair closes earlier, around 15:00. Check the final schedule on the official CIIF website before you go. Don't leave important meetings for the last day: some exhibitors start packing down their stands early.

Where to stay. The practical choice is the Hongqiao area. It is especially convenient if you are combining CIIF with factory visits in the region: NECC is close by, and from Hongqiao Railway Station you can easily reach Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and other cities by high-speed train. For the fair period, hotels near NECC are best booked in advance.

Getting around the complex. NECC is a huge exhibition complex built in the shape of a “four-leaf clover”, around 300,000 m². The halls are arranged around a central plaza and connected to each other. Plan your route through the halls in advance: walking between distant halls can take a noticeable amount of time. For CIIF, count on a full day on your feet and wear comfortable shoes.

Weather. In mid-October Shanghai usually has comfortable autumn weather: roughly 18–24 °C during the day, cooler in the morning and evening. The chance of rain gradually decreases in October, but a compact umbrella still comes in handy.

Payment and connectivity. Install and set up Alipay and link a foreign bank card before you fly. For a detailed guide on installing and setting up Alipay, linking your card and how foreigners pay in China, read our article How to Pay in China in 2026: A Complete Guide. It also covers the main payment methods in China and the specifics for foreign tourists. Through Alipay you can pay for most everyday expenses in China — from transport and taxis to restaurants, shops and hotels.

Also arrange mobile internet in advance: an eSIM or roaming package will come in handy for maps, taxis and online translation.