China Factory Guide
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02 Nov, 2026
Automechanika Shanghai 2026 runs December 2–5 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, with about 7,600 exhibitors across 16 halls. It is one of the biggest auto parts shows in the world.
The show is a great place to meet suppliers. But a booth is not a factory. Many stands belong to trading companies, and even real manufacturers bring only a small part of their range.
The smart move is to add two or three days of factory visits after the show. Most of China's auto parts factories sit a few hours from Shanghai by high-speed train, in Zhejiang province. This guide shows where they are, a sample 7-day plan, and how to book the visits before you fly.
Find verified auto parts factories in Wenzhou before you fly →
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | December 2–5, 2026 (Wednesday to Saturday) |
| Venue | National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Shanghai |
| Size | About 7,600 exhibitors, 390,000 m², 16 halls |
| Edition | 21st |
| Organizer | Messe Frankfurt |
| Getting there | NECC is next to the Hongqiao transport hub: Hongqiao airport and Hongqiao railway station |
Register as a visitor on the official Automechanika Shanghai website before you travel, and check the hall plan to mark the product zones you need.
Tip: stay near Hongqiao. You can walk or take the metro to the show, and the same station has the high-speed trains to the factory cities.
Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai, is one of China's densest auto parts clusters. Wenzhou and its county-level city Ruian are the biggest hub, with hundreds of small and mid-size parts makers close together.
| City | Train time from Shanghai Hongqiao | What you will find |
|---|---|---|
| Hangzhou | About 1 hour | Large suppliers, many with export teams |
| Ningbo | About 2 hours | Parts makers near one of the world's largest ports |
| Taizhou | About 3 hours | Auto and motorcycle parts makers |
| Wenzhou | About 3h15m to 4h | The biggest cluster: brakes, suspension, bushings, electrical, filters, motorcycle parts |
| Ruian | About 30 minutes by car from Wenzhou South station | Dense streets of parts factories, part of the Wenzhou cluster |
There are more than 60 high-speed trains a day between Shanghai and Wenzhou, with second-class seats from about CNY 185. Times for the other cities are approximate: check the live timetable before you book.
See the Wenzhou factory package: contacts, addresses and WeChat →
One arrival day, two and a half days at the show, then three days in the factory cities. Adjust it to the parts you buy.
| Day | Date | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tue, Dec 1 | Arrive in Shanghai. Stay near Hongqiao. Pick up a local SIM or eSIM. |
| 2 | Wed, Dec 2 | Show day 1: walk the halls for your product zones. Collect cards, take photos of products and part numbers. |
| 3 | Thu, Dec 3 | Show day 2: meet the suppliers you shortlisted. Ask each one directly: "Is this your own factory? Where is it?" |
| 4 | Fri, Dec 4 | Show morning, then the afternoon train to Wenzhou (about 3.5 hours). |
| 5 | Sat, Dec 5 | Factory visits in Wenzhou: two or three a day is realistic. |
| 6 | Sun, Dec 6 | Ruian visits, if factories confirmed they open on Sunday. Otherwise, review notes and samples. |
| 7 | Mon, Dec 7 | A last visit in Wenzhou or Taizhou, then back to Shanghai for your flight. |
Many Chinese factories work on Saturdays, but not all. Confirm opening days when you book each visit.
A buying trip to China is expensive. If you land in Wenzhou without confirmed visits, you lose days you already paid for.
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Flights, hotel and trains for 7 days | $2,000 |
| Cost per day of the trip | about $285 |
| Factory days in the plan | 3 days = about $855 |
| Wenzhou factory package (lifetime access) | $150 |
The example uses $2,000 for the trip; your own cost may be higher or lower. Either way, $150 is less than one day of the trip. It turns those factory days into confirmed visits with the right manufacturers, instead of searching on the spot.
Book your December 5–7 visits before you fly →
The fastest way to fill your factory days is to choose the factories before you leave home. China Factory Guide groups verified manufacturers by product and by city, so one trip to Wenzhou can cover many of them.
Factory owners are busy in show week. Book at least two to three weeks ahead, and send the same short message to each factory.
Send it in both languages. Many factory owners in Wenzhou read Chinese faster than English.
English
Hello, I am [Name] from [Company] in [Country]. We import [product], about [quantity] per year. I will attend Automechanika Shanghai (December 2–5) and would like to visit your factory on [date]. Could you please send your catalog, MOQ and FOB prices? Thank you.
Chinese
您好，我是来自[国家][公司名称]的[姓名]。我们每年进口约[数量]的[产品]。我将参加上海法兰克福汽配展（Automechanika Shanghai，12月2–5日），希望在[日期]参观贵工厂。请发送产品目录、最小起订量和FOB价格。谢谢！
What to check on the day: the production line running, raw material stock, quality control station, packing area, and the export documents they already ship with.
Many buyers can now enter China without a visa for the show:
| Your passport | Entry rule | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia, Australia, Spain, Brazil (and other listed countries) | 30 days visa-free | Unilateral policy, valid until December 31, 2026; covers business visits |
| UAE | Visa-free under a mutual exemption agreement | In force since 2018 |
| US, Mexico and other transit-list countries | Up to 240 hours (10 days) visa-free transit | Needs an onward ticket to a third country, and you must stay in the permitted area |
| Countries not on these lists (for example Nigeria, Egypt) | Visa needed | Apply early: allow several weeks |
Rules change often. Confirm with the Chinese embassy in your country before you book flights.
Practical tips:
December 2–5, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai.
About 7,600 exhibitors across 16 halls and 390,000 m².
Many are, but many stands belong to trading companies. Ask each supplier where its factory is, and visit it if you plan to order.
About 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours by high-speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao, with more than 60 trains a day.
Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Australia, Spain, Brazil and other listed countries can enter visa-free for 30 days until December 31, 2026. UAE citizens are visa-exempt. Others may use the 240-hour transit rule or need a visa: check with the Chinese embassy.
China Factory Guide lists 1,200+ verified Chinese auto parts and motorcycle parts manufacturers, most of them in Wenzhou. Each listing has product photos, company name, full address, phone, email and WeChat, so you can book your visits before you land in Shanghai.
China Factory Guide
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