GUANGZHOU - The autumn session of the biannual Canton Fair opened in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou on Wednesday.

The lighting equipment exhibition hall of the 104th China Import and Export Fair is seen in this picture, Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, October 15, 2008. [Xinhua]

It is viewed as the barometer of Chinese exports and imports.

Events will be held for 15 days compared to previous fairs which ran for 12 days, said Mu Xinhai, the fair spokesman.

That's not the only change to the fall fair.

It is being held at the Pazhou Complex which is larger than the Liuhua Complex where the ever-expanding fair had been housed since 1974, Mu said.

According to Wen Zhongliang, director of the fair's business office,  there are 53,000 booths at the fair which is 10,000 more than the previous session. Booths were rented by 22,000 businesses, 3,000 more than in the spring.

The first phase of the fair, October 15-19, features electronic appliances, hardware and tools, machinery, vehicles and spare parts, building materials, lighting equipment and chemical products, Wen said.

The October 24-28 phase features mainly consumer goods, gifts and home decorations. The last phase, which runs from November 2-6, includes textiles and garments, shoes, office supplies, cases and bags, recreation products, medicines, medical devices, health products, food and native produce, he said.

First held in 1957, the Canton Fair has evolved into a leading world trade fair for exporters and customers.