The most common mistake on a China trip is a full calendar with nothing decided. A good route reduces time on the road and spends the hours on conversations that can actually close a decision.
How a route is built
- Define the goal: factory selection, pricing, inspection, or signing;
- Define the cities: if one city has three to five factories, do not cross provinces for one;
- Sequence: put factories that need side-by-side comparison on the same day;
- Keep half a day of buffer: factory rescheduling is normal.
Typical structures
| Days | Structure | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 city, 4–5 factories, 1 market or show | Category already shortlisted, final comparison |
| 5 | 2 cities, 6–8 factories, 1 trade show | First visit, factories and show combined |
| 7+ | 3 cities, multiple categories, sampling follow-up | Multi-category sourcing or on-site spec changes |
When the route changes
A cancelled factory visit, a failed sample requiring a replacement, a show clash: the quotation states how route changes are charged and how much notice is required, so on-site surcharges are not the default.
Included and not included
- Included: route design, appointment coordination, on-site accompaniment and interpreting as needed, same-day notes;
- Not included: flights, hotels, inter-city transport, meals, visa processing. These can be booked on request, billed at cost.