Smart innovations take center stage at Canton Fair

The 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair kicks off, April 15, 2026. (Photo/Fu Haiyan)

The 139th China Import and Export Fair, known globally as the Canton Fair, opened on April 15th in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, showcasing a remarkable array of smart innovations -- from drone delivery systems to badminton-playing robots -- that captured global attention.

This year's event set a new record for scale, featuring a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters and 75,700 booths. Over 32,000 exhibitors participated, including approximately 3,900 first-time participants.

Reflecting trends toward innovation, sustainability, and intelligence, the fair introduced nine new specialized sections covering areas such as consumer drones, smart wearables, display technologies, and agricultural drones. The total number of exhibition sections expanded to 179, offering comprehensive coverage from traditional manufacturing to advanced industries.

Key highlights included newly established zones dedicated to consumer and agricultural drones, showcasing cutting-edge technologies such as flight control systems, AI-powered obstacle avoidance, and new-energy propulsion. These exhibits not only demonstrate China's advances in the drone industry but also provide an efficient platform for global buyers and suppliers.

The opening day saw international buyers quickly engaging with the latest technologies. In one striking example, a buyer from Saudi Arabia ordered milk tea via the Canton Fair mobile app. Minutes later, a drone carrying an orange delivery box landed smoothly at a designated pickup point, where a humanoid robot retrieved the drink and handed it over.

"Very cool! This is my first time experiencing drone delivery," said Osama, the buyer. "In such a large venue, I didn't have to queue or walk around. It's fast and completely new."

In the consumer drone area, the hum of low-altitude test flights filled the air as sleek drones were displayed alongside live demonstrations of aerial photography and rescue operations.

A robot is exhibited at the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, April 15, 2026. (Photo/Fu Haiyan)

A buyer named Juan from Brazil climbed into the cockpit of an ultra-light electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying cart developed by Yufei Aviation, a Chinese professional manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft, carefully asking about payload, speed, and safety features. After evaluating the product, he concluded that it has strong market potential in Brazil.

This scene was typical of the opening day, where interaction and hands-on experience helped turn interest into potential orders. Product launch events featured diverse smart devices, including robots capable of playing badminton, automated bed cleaners, and bionic quadruped robots.

In one demonstration, a humanoid robot reacted in under a second to a fast-approaching shuttlecock, executing movements like tracking, positioning, stepping, swinging, and striking to return the shot, drawing cheers from the crowd.

"Through multi-stage learning, the robot has developed multiple degrees of wrist freedom, enabling it to replicate human wrist motion," said Wang Mengdi, head of branding of the company that developed the robot. "It can execute forehand, backhand, and high-clear shots, making it a capable 'badminton partner.'"

The prominence of intelligent products is one of the defining features of this year's fair. The number of emerging industry zones has increased to 18, showcasing how innovative manufacturing capabilities are transitioning from workshops to the global market..

A new energy vehicle is exhibited at the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, April 15, 2026. (Photo/Liu Bing)

Among the 4.65 million exhibits, 23 percent are new products, 22 percent are green products, and 25 percent carry independent intellectual property rights. Notably, 61 percent of participating companies are leveraging technologies such as the industrial internet and AI.

"At this year's Canton Fair, I've seen more and more digital and intelligent products seamlessly integrated into everyday life and consumption," said a buyer named Pavel from Russia. "The vision of technology improving daily life is becoming a reality."

The Canton Fair is often regarded as a barometer of China's foreign trade, and this year it will host more than 600 product launch events, using a "smart technology plus real-world scenarios" approach to energize the exhibition and provide global participants with more convenient, targeted, and efficient trade services.