Visiting a Chinese factory: what to expect
Agree the visit by appointment, send your agenda and questions beforehand, expect a meeting room, tea and a tour, and use the day to see the production line, the quality checks and the warehouse. Ask permission before taking photographs, and write down what was agreed before you leave.
Before you go
Visit by appointment rather than turning up. Send the factory your arrival time, who is coming, a short agenda and the questions you want answered, so the right people are in the building. If the factory is in a city you do not know, ask them to send the address in Chinese for the driver. For scheduling, see our guide to China factory holidays beyond New Year.
Check the entry rules for your trip before booking: the GOV.UK travel advice for China sets out current entry requirements and is the page to rely on. Bring your passport to the factory, because the gate may ask for identification.
What the day usually looks like
A typical visit starts in a meeting room with tea and introductions, then a walk through the production floor, then the sample room or warehouse, then questions, and often a meal. The host usually walks you around. Let them lead, but ask to see the steps that matter to your product.
Expect to be shown the better lines. Ask politely to see the line that will make your order, the incoming material store, the area where finished goods are checked and packed, and the records for the last batch of the same product.
What to bring and wear
Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you are happy to get dusty. Bring business cards, a notebook, your specification and sample, a measuring tape and a torch or phone light. Ask permission before taking photographs or video: some areas are restricted by customers or by the factory itself.
Take notes as you go and send a short written summary the same day: what you saw, what was agreed and what is still open. That summary is what you will point to later.
Using the visit well
A visit tells you what the factory looks like on one day. It does not replace a documented check of the business licence, the exact production site and the inspection of your own goods. Keep those separate: see what to check before paying a Chinese supplier and the wider etiquette guide.
If you would rather not travel, our own staff in China can visit, hold your specification and report back with photographs and measurements. See our factory visits service.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just turn up at a Chinese factory?
It is better not to. Visit by appointment, send the factory your arrival time, agenda and questions, and ask for the address in Chinese for your driver.
Can I take photographs inside a Chinese factory?
Ask permission first. Some areas are restricted by the factory or by its other customers, and a refusal is usually about those restrictions rather than hiding something.
What should I ask to see during a factory visit?
Ask to see the line that will make your order, the incoming material store, where finished goods are checked and packed, and the records for the last batch of a similar product.