Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center

Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center

The Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center is located on Pazhou Island on the south bank of the Pearl River, covering a total area of 700,000 square meters. It is currently the largest exhibition center in Asia and the second largest in the world, only after the Hanover Exhibition Center in Germany. The Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center is one of the iconic buildings representing Guangzhou’s new urban image in the 21st century and also serves as a popular tourist attraction.

As early as 1993, given that the existing venues of the Canton Fair could no longer meet the growing demands of the expanding trade fair business, and considering the booming development of Guangzhou’s convention and exhibition industry—with various exhibitions, investment forums, and expos taking place year-round, creating a “never-ending trade fair”—the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation proposed relocating and rebuilding the China Import and Export Fair Complex into a world-class expo with grand scale and advanced facilities. Thus, the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center came into being.

The convention and exhibition center is situated on Pazhou Island, surrounded by the Pearl River. Pazhou connects to the Science City and the university cluster of Wushan to the north, and to the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center and the Lotus Hill tourism and leisure center to the south, boasting exceptionally superior transportation conditions and geographical location. To create a favorable and relaxed cultural environment for the annual Canton Fair, the Huancheng Expressway and the East Ring Expressway divide Pazhou Island from west to east into distinct A, B, and C zones. The Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Center is located at the heart of Zone B, and supporting facilities related to conventions and exhibitions—such as hotels, office buildings, banks, commercial service outlets, and museums—are currently under development around it. This area is evolving into an ecological new urban sub-center dominated by exhibition and convention services, international business, information exchange, high-tech R&D, and tourism services, while also offering high-quality residential living functions.

The first phase of the convention and exhibition center covers an area of 430,000 square meters and features three floors with a total of 16 exhibition halls, covering an exhibition area of 160,000 square meters. It can provide 10,200 international standard booths, along with a 22,000-square-meter northern plaza that can be used for outdoor exhibitions.

The Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Center spans 700,000 square meters in land area and 500,000 square meters in construction area. It consists of exhibition halls with 8,000 international standard booths and supporting service facilities capable of accommodating 30,000 people for dining and activities simultaneously. In addition to product exhibitions and business negotiations, it also serves functions such as banquets, press conferences, and large-scale events. The completion of the convention and exhibition center has further elevated the status of the Canton Fair as a flagship representation of the city.

The convention and exhibition center has set two “world records”: it has the world’s largest single exhibition hall by area and the world’s longest steel truss span. Its intelligent systems, ventilation, and transportation infrastructure all reflect cutting-edge standards of the modern world.

In terms of design, the convention and exhibition center is a modern intelligent building that emphasizes energy efficiency, indoor and outdoor ecological environments, and integrates architectural art with modern technology. It adopts a streamlined design that “starts low in the north and gradually rises toward the south,” embodying a dynamic sense of “floating.” A “Pearl River Promenade,” approximately 40 meters wide and nearly 450 meters long, not only divides the interior of the convention and exhibition center into two parts but also serves as a multifunctional passage that harmoniously connects the north and south venues as well as the upper and lower levels. The undulating, wave-like roof gives it the appearance of floating in from the Pearl River. From an aerial view, the convention and exhibition center resembles a cloud drifting quietly to the south bank of the Pearl River; from the side, it looks like a fish that has just leaped ashore, with its head facing south and full of vitality. Walking along the “Pearl River Promenade,” visitors can lean on escalators, admire the uniquely charming palm trees through the windows, and enjoy the splendid cultural scenery along both sides of the Pearl River. They can also relax in cafes and leisure areas, chatting with friends and enjoying the pleasures of modern life.

Although the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center is smaller than the Hanover Exhibition Center in Germany in terms of total exhibition area, its single-hall construction area of 395,000 square meters and exhibition area of 160,000 square meters make it the world’s largest single exhibition hall by those metrics.

Currently, the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center is undertaking a Phase II expansion project. Once completed, its area and the number of booths will surpass those of the Hanover Exhibition Center in Germany, making it the world’s largest. The Phase II project and corresponding supporting facilities are scheduled for completion in 2006.