The China International Wine & Food Fair (CIWF) is the largest and longest-running B2B trade show dedicated to wine and spirits on the Chinese mainland. Held every spring and autumn in Chengdu, the event occupies more than 200,000 m² of the Western China International Expo City and attracts more than 3,000 exhibitors and 300,000 professional visits. CIWF is organised by China National Sugar & Alcohol Group Co. and the Chengdu Municipal Government; the 110th edition is scheduled for 12-14 November 2024.

The fair is strictly trade-only: entrance is free for professionals who pre-register and present a business card or buyer ID. Visitors are drawn from importers, distributors, wholesalers, e-commerce platforms, hotel and restaurant groups, duty-free operators and provincial alcohol monopolies. The audience is 80% domestic decision-makers, but an increasing contingent of international traders attend to secure representation rights for premium European, American and Australasian portfolios.

The exhibition is divided into themed pavilions: Old World Wine, New World Wine, Spirits & Craft Distillates, Beer & Cider, Food & Gourmet, and a dedicated zone for Chinese baijiu and huangjiu. Parallel features include the Golden Liquor Awards, blind-tasted by a panel of MWs, Chinese national judges and senior buyers; the Import & Export Forum, where customs, quarantine and tax authorities explain the latest clearance procedures; and the Digital Marketing Lab, where platforms such as Douyin and Tmall share real-time consumer data. Tasting classrooms run hourly masterclasses on regional typicity, food-pairing science and the rapid rise of low-alcohol RTDs among Gen-Z shoppers.

Keynote speakers confirmed for 2024 include Wang Xinyuan, Vice-President of China National Food Industry Association; Alberto Fernández, Managing Director of Torres China; and Isabelle Legeron MW, founder of RAW Wine, who will address sustainability standards. The opening ceremony will be followed by a government-hosted reception pairing Sichuan cuisine with boutique wines from Ningxia and Shangri-La.

CIWF remains an offline, in-person event; no virtual component is offered. Badges are scanned on entry and exit to generate heat-maps that help exhibitors refine stand positioning. Shuttle buses connect downtown hotels with the venue every 15 minutes, and a bilingual mobile app provides floorplans, exhibitor search and on-site meeting booking.