In pics: history of Canton Fair

File photo shows staff members of China's home appliance marker Galanz at the 85th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, 1999. Launched in 1957, the Canton Fair is held in the spring and autumn seasons each year. The exhibition is widely seen as a barometer of China's trade. (Xinhua)