popularinchinaSubscribe

Travel tools · Shanghai · Step 12 of 13

CIIE 2026: dates, registration and getting to the expo

The China International Import Expo fills the National Exhibition and Convention Center in western Shanghai every November. Here is who can get in, what a badge costs, which metro exits to use and where to stay.

Our answer

5–10 Nov 2026 进博会

National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), next to Hongqiao

4,142overseas companies exhibiting in 2026

The short answer

The 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) runs from 5 to 10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Professional visitors attend from 6 to 10 November with a badge that had to be booked online by 20 October: ¥200 for all five days or ¥100 for 8–10 November. There is no on-site registration.

At a glance
Dates5–10 November 2026; professional visitors 6–10 November
VenueNational Exhibition and Convention Center (国家会展中心), 333 Songze Avenue, Qingpu District
Who gets inBadge holders only: exhibitors and professional visitors registered in advance
Visitor badge¥200 for 6–10 November, ¥100 for 8–10 November
RegistrationClosed 20 October 2026 (payment 23 October); no on-site registration
MetroNational Exhibition and Convention Center station, Lines 2 and 17

What is the CIIE?

The China International Import Expo is a trade fair for goods and services sold into China, held in Shanghai each November. 2026 is its ninth edition.

This year the exhibition area passes 440,000 square metres for the first time, with 162 countries, regions and international organisations taking part and 4,142 overseas companies exhibiting. US companies have the most exhibition space for the eighth year running, followed by companies from Germany, Britain and France.[3]

CIIE 2026 key dates

Date (Beijing time)What happens
28 May 2026Registration opens for overseas professional visitors; online matchmaking platform launches
20 October 2026, midnightRegistration closes
23 October 2026, midnightPayment closes
5 November 2026Expo opens
6–10 November 2026Professional visitor days

How overseas visitors register

For 2026 registration has closed. The same steps applied this year and are worth knowing for next year’s expo.[1][2]

  1. 1

    Register online

    On the official CIIE website (www.ciie.org), go to Business Exhibition, then Visitor, then Registration. The CIIE app and WeChat mini program also work. Returning visitors may get a one-click link by email.

  2. 2

    Add your organisation and everyone coming

    Fill in your organisation and every person attending. You can add people until the deadline, not after. Foreign nationals can apply for an invitation letter once registered.

  3. 3

    Pay for the badges

    ¥200 per badge for 6–10 November or ¥100 for 8–10 November, paid by the payment deadline.

  4. 4

    Get your badge

    Have it posted free to a mainland China address that stays valid for six months, or collect it on site. Pick-up place and hours are sent by email and through the registration system.

Getting there by metro

The venue’s metro station is National Exhibition and Convention Center (国家会展中心), on Lines 2 and 17. Exits as published by the Shanghai government for the 2025 expo:[4]

LineExitLeads to
Line 2Exits 4 or 5 (advised for CIIE badge holders); 6 and 8 also workWest Entrance
Line 17Exit 15, then the underground passageNorth Square and North Entrance
Line 2, going homeExits 4, 5 or 9 from the West EntranceLine 2 platforms
Line 17, going homeUnderground passage at the north-west corner of the North SquareLine 17, usually less crowded after events

To avoid the Line 2 crush, take Line 10 to Hongqiao Railway Station and change to Line 17. Plan the trip with our Shanghai metro route finder.

By taxi from the airports and stations

FromDistanceTaxi time
Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2About 6 kmAbout 10 min
Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1About 10 kmAbout 20 min
Hongqiao Railway StationAbout 6 kmAbout 10 min
Shanghai Railway StationAbout 25 kmAbout 35 min
Pudong AirportAbout 60 kmAbout 70 min

Times without traffic. During the expo, roads near the entrances are often restricted or jammed, so the metro is usually quicker. From Pudong Airport, see our Shanghai airport guide.

Where to stay

Hotels around Hongqiao give the shortest trip to the venue but fill up fast in expo week. Staying downtown (People’s Square, the Bund, Jing’an) adds about 30 to 45 minutes by metro or car, with more restaurants and usually more rooms.

InterContinental Shanghai NECC sits inside the exhibition complex itself; it opened in 2016 with 536 rooms. For chains that take foreign guests, see our hotel chains guide.[6][8]

Questions readers ask

When is CIIE 2026?

From 5 to 10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Professional visitors attend from 6 to 10 November.

Can tourists visit the CIIE?

Entry is by badge only. Visitor badges are for professionals from companies and organisations who registered online before the deadline, which was 20 October 2026. There is no on-site registration.

How much does a CIIE visitor badge cost?

For overseas professional visitors in 2026: ¥200 per badge for 6–10 November, or ¥100 for 8–10 November.

Which metro station is closest to the CIIE?

National Exhibition and Convention Center station on Lines 2 and 17. Use Line 2 exits 4 or 5 for the West Entrance, or Line 17 exit 15 for the North Entrance.

Where is the CIIE held?

At the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), 333 Songze Avenue, Qingpu District, in the west of the city about 6 km from Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Hongqiao Railway Station.

Is there a CIIE helpline?

Yes. The CIIE service hotline is 021-968888.

Sources

  1. Shanghai government: FAQs for overseas professional visitor registration for the 9th CIIE (May 2026) · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  2. Shanghai government: 9th CIIE opens registration for professional visitors (May 2026) · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  3. CGTN: US companies to top CIIE exhibition area for eighth straight year (Oct 2026) · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  4. Shanghai government: How to get to and leave the CIIE venue by metro (Oct 2025) · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  5. Wikipedia: National Exhibition and Convention Center station · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  6. Trip.com: CIIE 2026 for overseas visitors (Sep 2026) · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  7. Shanghai Bendibao: 2026 CIIE dates, venue and visitor registration · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  8. IHG: InterContinental Shanghai NECC opens (Sep 2016) · accessed 2 Nov 2026
  9. Auto Shanghai: Travel to the fairground (NECC) · accessed 2 Nov 2026

Update log. 2 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 15 May 2027. Suggest a correction

Newsletter · Free · Every Thursday

The China Brief

Entry rules and prices change. We tell you when they do.

Free. Unsubscribe in one click.