CIIE 2026 at a glance

The 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held from 5 to 10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), often shortened to NECC. It is at 333 Songze Avenue, Qingpu District, in the Hongqiao business district on Shanghai’s western side.

According to the CIIE’s official materials, the expo is hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. It is organised by the China International Import Expo Bureau and NECC (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., and has been held every year in Shanghai since 2018. The 2026 theme is “New Era, Shared Future”.

All facts in this guide come from the official CIIE website (www.ciie.org) and the Shanghai government’s English portal (english.shanghai.gov.cn), checked on 8 October 2026. Deadlines are close, so confirm every step on the official site before you pay or travel.

Key dates and deadlines

• 5–10 November 2026: the expo. 5 November is the opening day. The main session of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum doubles as the expo’s opening ceremony.
• 6–10 November: visiting days for overseas professional visitors, per the CIIE’s official FAQ.
• 8, 9 or 10 November: the days open to individual visitors, with limited daily quotas allocated first come, first served.
• 20 October 2026, 24:00 Beijing time: registration deadline for both professional and individual visitors.
• 23 October 2026, 24:00 Beijing time: payment deadline.

There is no regular on-site registration. If you have not registered and paid by the deadlines, plan on not getting in.

What is at CIIE 2026?

The Shanghai government describes four core parts:

• Country Exhibition: national pavilions and cultural exchanges. By early September, 57 countries and 3 international organisations had confirmed participation.
• Business Exhibition: the trade halls. More than 1,200 companies from 99 countries and regions were listed as participating. The six sectors are automobiles; medical equipment and healthcare products; intelligent industry and information technology; consumer goods; food and agricultural products; and trade in services.
• Hongqiao International Economic Forum: this year’s theme is “Stability and Cooperation: Building an Open World Economy Together”.
• Supporting events: trade matchmaking, investment promotion and cultural performances.

CIIE is primarily a business event focused on imports into China. For a consumer-style day out, expect product displays and tastings rather than a shopping fair.

Option 1: register as an overseas professional visitor

This channel is for industry insiders from enterprises, government bodies, public institutions and social organisations outside the Chinese mainland. It is the route most foreign business visitors use. From the official FAQ:

1. Go to www.ciie.org → Business Exhibition → Visitor → Registration.

2. Enter your organisation’s details and every person who will attend, visit or purchase.

3. Wait for the review. Results are emailed, and you can track progress under Business Exhibition → Visitor → Sign In.

4. Pay the certificate fee. The official fee is CNY 200 per certificate for 6–10 November or CNY 100 for 8–10 November.

5. Collect your certificate. Choose free express delivery to a mainland China address that stays valid for six months, or on-site collection. If you choose on-site collection, the time and place are sent by email and through the registration system.

Payment methods listed by the CIIE include QR-code payment (UnionPay, WeChat Pay, Alipay) and cards from Mastercard, Visa, JCB, Diners Club and China UnionPay, plus e-wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Important rules:

• Personnel details cannot be changed after submission. You can add more people before the registration deadline.
• If your review fails, you can request a refund online, and you bear any exchange-rate loss. Once approved, certificate production starts automatically, and refunds or name swaps are no longer possible.

Invitation letters for foreign nationals

After registering, foreign nationals can sign in and go to Application for Personnel Certificates → Apply Invitation Letter. Once approved, the letter can be downloaded. You may need one for a visa application, depending on your nationality.

Option 2: register as an individual visitor

On 15 September 2026 the Shanghai government reported that individual visitor registration opened on 9 September. Key points:

• Who: people not part of a trade delegation or organisational registration, aged 14 or over. Media must use the press channel instead.
• When you can visit: 8, 9 or 10 November, subject to daily quotas.
• Fee: a visitor badge service fee of CNY 50 per person per day.
• How: in the official CIIE WeChat mini-program (Individual Visitor Registration), or on the website under Business Exhibition → Registration → Individual Visitor.
• Payment: QR-code payment via UnionPay, WeChat Pay or Alipay. On a computer you can also pay with international cards and Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Badge delivery: courier only, free of charge, to a mainland China address valid for the next six months. If you have no mainland address, ask the CIIE service hotline how to receive a badge before you pay.
• Foreigners can register, but no invitation letter is available through this channel. If you need one, register as a professional (institutional) visitor instead.

Registration and payment do not guarantee admission. Your information is reviewed first, and the badge is issued only after approval.

Visa and arrival basics

Many visitors can now enter China without a visa for short business trips. Check whether your passport qualifies under China’s 30-day visa-free entry policy or the 240-hour visa-free transit rules. Confirm with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.

Hotels register foreign guests with the police as part of check-in, so have your passport ready. Our guide to hotel check-in with a foreign passport explains what to expect.

Getting to the NECC

The CIIE’s 2026 exhibitor manual gives these official routes:

• Metro: Lines 2 and 17 both stop at National Exhibition and Convention Center Station. Line 2 connects with most of Shanghai’s metro lines.
• From Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2: Line 2 direct. The manual estimates about 10 minutes (6 km) by taxi.
• From Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1: Line 10 to Hongqiao Railway Station, then Line 2. About 20 minutes by taxi.
• From Pudong International Airport: Line 2 direct, or the faster option of the Airport Link Line to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, then Line 2. About 70 minutes (around 60 km) by taxi.
• From Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: Line 2 or 17. About 10 minutes by taxi.
• From Shanghai Railway Station: Line 3 or 4 to Zhongshan Park, then Line 2.

Arriving by air? Our first-arrival guides cover Hongqiao Airport and Pudong Airport.

Practical tips for foreign visitors

• Register today if you haven’t. As of 8 October 2026, you have 12 days until the 20 October deadline.
• Set up payments first. Link a card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive. See our Alipay and WeChat Pay guide.
• Get mobile data. You’ll need it for QR codes, maps and messaging. See our China SIM and eSIM guide.
• Book hotels early. Large expos increase demand around Hongqiao. Staying near Line 2 or 17 keeps your commute simple.
• Combine trips. If you also source from Guangzhou, compare dates with our Canton Fair autumn 2026 guide.
• Official help: the CIIE service hotline is +86-21-968888, and general enquiries go to [email protected].

FAQ

When is CIIE 2026?

5–10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Overseas professional visitors can visit from 6 to 10 November, and individual visitors on 8, 9 or 10 November.

Can the general public attend CIIE 2026?

Yes, through individual visitor registration for 8–10 November, with daily quotas. Advance online registration and a CNY 50 per day badge fee are required.

What is the registration deadline for CIIE 2026?

24:00 on 20 October 2026 (Beijing time), with payment due by 24:00 on 23 October 2026.

Can I register on site at CIIE?

No. The CIIE says there is no regular on-site registration for the 9th CIIE.

How do foreigners get a CIIE invitation letter?

Register as a professional visitor, then apply under “Application for Personnel Certificates → Apply Invitation Letter”. Individual visitor registration does not offer invitation letters.

Bottom line

CIIE 2026 runs 5–10 November in Shanghai. For foreign visitors everything depends on registering online by 20 October and paying by 23 October: as a professional visitor (CNY 200 or 100) or as an individual visitor for 8–10 November (CNY 50 a day). Then take Line 2 or 17 to the NECC. Rules can change, so check www.ciie.org before you act. Lovely China, founded in 2025, welcomes corrections at [email protected].