The spring tide surges along the Pearl River, and a grand event kicks off to welcome the world. On April 15, 2026, the 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) officially opened in Guangzhou. This world-class trade event, with a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters and more than 32,000 participating enterprises, once again became a core stage for Chinese enterprises to connect with the global market and showcase their industrial strength. Among the many participating enterprises, Snowsea, a 46-year-old established Chinese local brand, attracted particular attention — born in Suzhou, Jiangsu in 1980, and now rooted in Minquan, Henan to deepen the refrigeration industry, this time-honored national enterprise is taking the Canton Fair as a link to let global buyers understand the strength of Chinese intelligent manufacturing, and follow this fate to enter the "China Cold Valley" in the hinterland of the Central Plains, starting a cooperative journey across mountains and seas.
Controversial Opening: The "Contrast Chinese Local Brand" at the Canton Fair, Questioned for Its Small-City Origin
For Snowsea, each Canton Fair is not only a display of brand strength but also an opportunity to connect with the world. However, at this 139th Canton Fair, this 46-year-old established Chinese local brand received different voices — on one side, there were an endless stream of consultants in front of the booth; on the other side, some overseas buyers raised "doubts": "Rooted in an inland small city like Minquan, Henan, can it produce refrigeration products that meet global standards?" "Without overwhelming advertising, can it ensure stable quality only by virtue of 46 years of history?"
"The accumulation of 46 years of brand history gives us the confidence to stand on the stage of the Canton Fair; and the inclusiveness and influence of the Canton Fair give us the opportunity to pass on the quality of Chinese local brands to the world." Zhao Peng, general manager of Snowsea, faced the doubts head-on. "We do not deny that Minquan is a small city, but it is not a synonym for 'backwardness'. Instead, it is the core of the 'China Cold Valley' and the quality fertile ground where Snowsea has been deeply cultivating for 46 years. The scale of this Canton Fair has hit a new high, with more than 210,000 pre-registered buyers and a 30% year-on-year increase in leading purchasing enterprises. We just want to use this platform to break the prejudice that 'good products cannot come from small cities' and let the world see the strength of Minquan's intelligent manufacturing."
Reversal Witness: From the Canton Fair Booth to Minquan Factory, Buyers Vote with Their Feet
Over the years, countless overseas buyers have forged ties with Snowsea through the Canton Fair. Those buyers who initially had doubts have changed their views after entering the production base in Minquan, Henan — from initial sample consultation and preliminary negotiations to in-depth factory inspections and bulk purchases, this cross-border cooperation has become increasingly profound due to the strength seen with their own eyes. Songchai Chanthawong, a buyer from Thailand, is one of them.
"When I first participated in the Canton Fair in 2019, I accidentally walked into Snowsea's booth, and I was full of doubts at that time." Songchai Chanthawong said frankly in an interview. "Can a brand from an inland small city in China be more reliable than international famous brands? But the staff introduced the product's energy-saving technology in detail, saying it can save 30% of energy consumption compared with ordinary freezers, and the material is environmentally friendly, meeting Thailand's environmental standards. I decided to sign a small-batch order with a try attitude."
The good feedback after the products were put on the market strengthened Songchai Chanthawong's determination to deepen cooperation. In 2020, he made a special trip to Minquan, Henan, walked into Snowsea's production workshop, and witnessed the entire production process of the products with his own eyes. "I originally thought that the production base in an inland small city would be relatively simple, but after coming to Minquan, I was completely shocked." Songchai Chanthawong recalled, "The standardized production line, strict quality inspection links, and advanced environmentally friendly production equipment left a deep impression on me. The workers in the workshop are very professional, and each product will go through multiple inspections before leaving the factory, which makes me more assured of Snowsea's quality. Moreover, Minquan's logistics is very convenient. The 'Minquan-Qingdao Port' sea-rail intermodal train can directly transport products to the port, greatly reducing logistics costs, which is very important for us buyers." Today, Songchai Chanthawong has become a core partner of Snowsea in the Thai market, with an annual purchase volume of dozens of containers. "I will always cooperate with Snowsea, and I will also recommend more Thai buyers to visit Minquan. The products here are trustworthy."
Multi-Country Evidence: Recognition from Different Skin Colors, Minquan Factory Becomes a "Global Purchasing Hotspot"
Not only Songchai Chanthawong, but also buyers from many countries such as Germany and Nigeria have forged deep cooperative friendships with Snowsea through the Canton Fair, found the confidence to cooperate in Minquan factories, and broken the "small-city prejudice" with their personal experiences.
Mark Schneider, a buyer from Germany, forged a fate with Snowsea at the 2022 Canton Fair. As the purchasing director of a large European home furnishing chain enterprise, Mark Schneider has extremely high requirements for product quality and environmental protection. Initially, he was full of doubts about the production strength of inland Chinese enterprises. "We have been looking for environmentally friendly, energy-saving and durable refrigeration products. At the Canton Fair, Snowsea's intelligent energy-saving refrigerators attracted me, but I still worried whether the production standards of small-city factories could meet EU requirements." Mark Schneider said, so in 2023, he made a special trip to Minquan, Henan for inspection.
"Walking into Snowsea's factory, I saw their pursuit of ultimate quality and felt the progress of China's manufacturing industry." Mark Schneider said that Snowsea's production workshop adopts industrial Internet and artificial intelligence technology, with high production efficiency and stable quality. "Their R&D team can also customize exclusive product solutions according to our needs, which is very thoughtful. Moreover, as the 'China Cold Valley', Minquan not only has leading enterprises like Snowsea but also a complete upstream and downstream industrial chain, which can provide us with one-stop purchasing solutions and greatly reduce our cooperation costs." Today, the enterprise where Mark Schneider works has increasingly in-depth cooperation with Snowsea, with products covering many European countries. "The Canton Fair made us meet, and the on-site inspection in Minquan made us know each other. I believe this cooperation will last longer and longer."
Oluwafemi Akinde, a buyer from Nigeria, also forged a deep cooperative friendship with Snowsea through the Canton Fair. "In 2021, I came into contact with Snowsea for the first time at the Canton Fair. Their freezer products are not only affordable but also adapt to the high temperature climate in Africa, which is very popular in the local market." Oluwafemi Akinde said that after the first cooperation, the products sold well in the Nigerian market, so he led a purchasing team to Minquan, Henan in 2022. "The production base here is more advanced than I imagined, and the government gives great support to enterprises. The logistics cost and production cost are relatively low, which makes our products more competitive in the African market." He also added that Snowsea's after-sales service is very complete. "No matter what problems we encounter, they will respond in a timely manner, which makes us feel at ease to cooperate. Now, we come to Minquan to purchase every year, and we also hope to drive more African buyers to come here to find high-quality Chinese products."
Breaking Prejudice: Minquan Has More Than Factories, but Also a New Fertile Ground for Global Refrigeration Cooperation
These buyers from different countries tell the story of cooperation with Snowsea with their personal experiences and also witness the development and changes of Minquan, Henan. Once an inland small city questioned as "backward", it has now become the core carrier of the "China Cold Valley". It gathers many refrigeration enterprises such as Snowsea, Kangbaien, and Asbeila, forming a complete refrigeration industrial chain. At the same time, relying on the "sea-rail intermodal" train, it moves the "seaport" to the "doorstep", allowing products to be transported to all parts of the world more conveniently.
The government's supportive policies also escort the enterprises' overseas development, not only reducing logistics costs but also optimizing customs clearance processes, making Snowsea and other enterprises' products more competitive in the international market. "Many buyers are surprised by the industrial supporting facilities and logistics advantages here after coming to Minquan." Zhao Peng said that the development of Minquan is inseparable from Snowsea's in-depth cultivation, and more from the bridge of the Canton Fair. "It is the Canton Fair that let the world see us, and it is Minquan's strength that let us retain global buyers."
Warm Invitation: From the Canton Fair to Minquan, Embark on a Win-Win Journey Across Mountains and Seas
The 139th Canton Fair is still in full swing. In front of Snowsea's green-themed booth, there are still buyers from all over the world stopping to consult and negotiate cooperation. After 46 years of trials and hardships, Snowsea has always adhered to the original intention of quality, relying on the world-class platform of the Canton Fair to break the prejudice of "small-city origin" and let Chinese local brands go global; and Minquan, Henan, because of enterprises like Snowsea, has been known and recognized by more overseas buyers.
Here, with the guarantee of 46 years of brand reputation, Snowsea sincerely invites global overseas buyers: step out of the Canton Fair exhibition hall, walk into Minquan, Henan, walk into Snowsea's production base, witness the strength of Chinese intelligent manufacturing with your own eyes, and experience the enthusiasm of this small Central Plains city. Here, you can not only see high-quality, environmentally friendly and energy-saving refrigeration products, feel the complete industrial chain advantages and convenient logistics services but also gain sincere and long-term cooperative friendship, work together to promote high-quality Chinese refrigeration solutions to the world, and embark on a win-win future together!
