Tips for Canton Fair registration

You can find detail information about registration of Canton Fair from following link:
http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/attend/registration/index.htm

Please try to prepare the invitation letter in advance.

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/attend/invitation/index3.htm

Either you can get the invitation online or visit the Chinese embassy in your country.

It is necessary for you to register in order to get your Buyers Card.

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/attend/registration/index2.htm#2

Registering in Advance

As mentioned in the official website, usually, there is always long queue for registration on the morning of Oct. 15th, 16th, 25th, 26th in Pazhou and Liuhua complex.

Unless you would like to get a feel about the no. of new visitors to Canton Fair, otherwise, it is better to avoid the chaos and the long queues, and try to register before the opening, i.e. either Oct. 14th or 24th, i.e. one day before the venue opens.

Registered in Site Outside the Complex

Or you could register at the venue of some appointed hotel:

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/attend/registration/index2.htm#2

For the new buyers, they would only give you the buyer card which is only valid for one session, i.e. this time for the 102nd session CECF.  
In fact, they offer another type of PVC card which would be valid forever, and you can use it permanently in future.

Get the Permanent PVC Card in the Later Part of the Fair

But they would only issue this in the later time of the fair, usually on Oct 17-20th and 27-30th and usually in Liuhua complex only. 
In order to avoid the hassle of go through the registration every year and if you intend to come back next time, it is highly recommend to change to the PVC card whenever it is available.
Therefore, it is better for you to plan in advance, if you only plan to spend most of the time in Pazhou and only plan to go to Liuhua once, then it is better that you wait until the later session, to change the buyer card at the same time.

Prepare Your Own Photo

As a new buyer, you need to come with your own passport photos, though there are instant photo service on site, it would save your time and money, (which cost around US$4 for 4 pictures) if you came with your own photo or you take pictures in the city, which cost about US$2 for 1 dozen instant color passport photos.