SOURCE / ECONOMY Firms mixed over the online format due to COVID-19 By Chi Jingyi and Tao Mingyang Published: Apr 15, 2021 08:18 PM The China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, where the Canton Fair takes place twice every year. This year, much of the fair is going virtual. Photo: VCG China on Thursday opened one of the world's largest trade fairs, the Canton Fair, attracting a record number of products from around the world in another fresh sign of the accelerating economic recovery in China and beyond from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to the lingering threat posed by the coronavirus, the 129th Canton Fair, usually takes place in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, is held mostly online, encouraging more overseas businesses to attend but frustrating some vendors that want to show their products in person.