Yiwu, a relatively unknown city, is actually the origin of many items you probably own. With Christmas around the corner, Yiwu’s significance grows even more. In fact, Yiwu Customs data from 2019 shows that the city is responsible for nearly 80% of the world’s Christmas decorations, which is truly amazing!
In this Yiwu City Guide article, we’ll take you on a journey to explore this fascinating city.

Introduction to Yiwu City and Its History

Yiwu is a bustling city in the central part of Zhejiang Province, with around 2 million people. Known as the “World’s Small Commodities Capital,” Yiwu has a long history of being a hub for wholesale trading. Its rich cultural heritage can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, and it has been an important trading center since ancient times due to its strategic location on the Silk Road. Today, Yiwu is famous for its vast wholesale markets and is a go-to destination for international traders looking to source various products at competitive prices. With over 75,000 suppliers and 1.8 million products across 26 different categories, Yiwu’s market attracts buyers worldwide looking for everything from jewelry to stationery to electronics.

Yiwu Market Overview

• District 1

District 1 officially opened in October 2002. With a construction area of 340,000 square meters and there are more than 10,000 booths.

1st Floor: Flowers, Toys;

2nd Floor: Hair Accessories;

3rd Floor: Craft Gifts;

4th Floor: Marketing Center for Small and Medium Production Enterprises,  Taiwanese Hall.

• District 2

District 2 was opened in October 2004, with a construction area of more than 600,000 square meters and a total of more than 8,000 booths.

1st Floor: Luggage, Umbrellas, Bags;

2nd Floor: Hardware Tools and Accessories, Electrical Products, Padlocks, vehicles;

3rd Floor: Hardware, Kitchenware, Small Household Appliances, Telecommunication Equipment, Electronic Instruments, Clocks & Watches;

4th Floor: Manufacturer Direct Sales Center, Hong Kong Hall, Korean Hall, etc;

5th Floor: Foreign Trade Procurement Services Center;

• District 3

The construction area of District 3 is more than 460,000 square meters. There are more than 6,000 standard booths of 14 square meters on the first to the third floor, more than 600 business booths of 80-100 square meters on the fourth to the fifth floor, and more than 650 exhibition halls above 50 square meters.

• District 4

District 4 was opened in October 2008, with a construction area of 1.08 million square meters and more than 16,000 booths.

First floor: Socks;

Second Floor: Daily Necessities, Gloves, Hats;

Third Floor: Footwear, Lace Materials, Ties, Wool, Towels, etc.;

Fourth Floor: Bras, Belts, Scarves.

• District 5

District 5 has a construction area of 640,000 square meters and more than 7,000 shops.

They mainly engage in imported goods, bedding, textiles, knitting raw materials, automotive supplies, and accessories.

Annual Exhibitions in Yiwu

Yiwu is home to several annual exhibitions that attract visitors from around the world. The biggest of these is the Yiwu International Commodities Fair, which takes place every October at the International Exhibition Center. This fair showcases goods from tens of thousands of Chinese factories and is a great place to find new products and suppliers. In addition to the Yiwu International Commodities Fair, there are more than 150 other exhibitions held in Yiwu each year, covering a wide range of industries and interests. Some of the most popular exhibitions include the China Yiwu International Forest Products Fair, the China Yiwu Cultural Products Trade Fair, and the China Yiwu International Exhibition on Knitting & Hosiery Machinery.

• China Yiwu International Commodities Fair

Among all the exhibitions in Yiwu every year, the most popular one is the China Yiwu International Commodities Fair which is held every October; we call it the “Yiwu Fair” as well.

The Yiwu Fair was founded in 1995. It is an international exhibition for daily consumer goods approved by the State Council. It is hosted by the government and is held in Yiwu every October. It has been successfully held for 27 consecutive sessions and has become the largest daily consumer goods exhibition in China, also known as the” Mini Canton Fair”.

Exhibiting industries: Hardware Tools, Construction Hardware, Daily Necessities, Office Products, Mechanical, and Electrical Machinery, Clothing and Hat Knitting, Toys, Craft Accessories, Electronic Appliances, Sports and Outdoor Leisure Products.

The 28th China Yiwu International Commodities Fair will be held from October 21 to 24, 2022 in Yiwu International Expo Center.

• China Yiwu Cultural and Tourism Products Trade Fair

China Yiwu Cultural and Tourism Products Trade Fair was founded in 1998. It covers Cultural and Tourism Creative Products and Designing Services, Smart Tourism Services, Creative Tourism Commodities, Consumer Cultural Products, Tourism Equipment Supplies, Holiday Consumer Products, Outdoor Leisure Products, Tourism and Holiday Foods, Handicraft Gifts, and Household Items.

The 2022 China Yiwu Cultural and Tourism Products Trade Fair will be held from June 11 to 13, 2022 at Yiwu International Expo Center.

• China Yiwu International Hardware & Electrical Appliances Fair

China Yiwu International Hardware & Electrical Appliances Fair was founded in 2015, it is the only professional exhibition platform for the hardware and electrical industry in Yiwu. The exhibition is hosted by Zhejiang China Commodity City Group.

Exhibit Industries:

Hardware Tools: manual/electric tools/pneumatic tools, general accessories, automobile and motorcycle tools (accessories), garden tools, measuring instruments, knives, labor insurance supplies, etc.

Construction Hardware: plumbing equipment, sanitary ware, construction equipment, decoration hardware, door and window accessories, valves, standard fasteners, locks, fire equipment, anti-theft equipment, etc.

Labor Protection Supplies: helmets, respiratory protective gear, protective tools, protective shoes, clothing, ordinary work clothes, labor insurance shoes, etc.

Electronic Appliances: large and small home appliances, lamps and lanterns, plugs and sockets, shavers, clocks, instruments, intelligent lighting control, mobile power, digital products, etc.

The 6th China Yiwu International Hardware & Electrical Appliances Fair will be held from June 16 to 18, 2022 at the Yiwu International Expo Center.

• China Yiwu International Forest Products Fair

China Yiwu International Forest Products Fair was founded in 2008, sponsored by the government, and has been successfully held for 14 sessions. The Forest Fair is a green, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly exhibition, also known as the “Forestry Canton Fair”.

Exhibiting Industries: Furniture and Accessories, Wood and Bamboo Handicrafts, Wood Structure and Decoration Materials, Wood and Bamboo Daily Necessities, Forest Food, Tea Products, Flower Gardening, Forestry Equipment, and Technology.

The 15th Forest Expo will be held on November 1-4, 2022 at Yiwu International Expo Center.

• China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair

Founded in 2012, Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair is a professional exhibition platform for imported daily consumer goods.

The 2020 import exhibition has five themed pavilions: The Quality Life Pavilion (Wine & Coffee), the Asia Pavilion, the Europe Pavilion, and the United States, Africa & Friendship City Exchange Pavilion. Exhibits come from 78 countries and regions around the world, including 41 countries and regions along the Belt and Road, including Russia, Poland, Greece, TURKEY, Sri Lanka, etc.

• Some Other Trade Fairs

How to Get to Yiwu

Yiwu is a popular destination for business travelers and tourists. It is easily accessible by air, train, or bus. If you are coming from overseas, the best way to get to Yiwu is by flying to Hangzhou International Airport, about 130 kilometers away. Once you arrive at the airport, you can take a taxi or a bus to Yiwu. Alternatively, you can take a high-speed train from major cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Beijing, bringing you to Yiwu Railway Station. If you prefer to travel by bus, you can take a direct bus from Shanghai or Hangzhou to Yiwu. Once you arrive in Yiwu, using taxis or public transportation to navigate the city is recommended. Taxis are widely available and relatively cheap, and some buses can also take you to different parts of the city. Having your destination written in Chinese characters is advisable to make communication with the driver easier。

Climate in Yiwu

Yiwu has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is around 17°C. The summers are hot, oppressive, wet, and mostly cloudy, while the winters are very cold and partly cloudy. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 29°C, and the coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 4°C. The city receives abundant rainfall, especially during the summer months, which can lead to occasional flooding.  If you’re planning to visit Yiwu, you should be prepared for the heat and humidity during the summer months, and bring appropriate clothing and gear to stay comfortable. The best time to go is in the spring or autumn when the weather is mild and pleasant.

Tips for Shopping in Yiwu

Nightlife in Yiwu

Yiwu offers a vibrant nightlife scene for locals and visitors alike. From bustling night markets and street food stalls to live music venues and trendy nightclubs, there is no shortage of entertainment options to explore after the sun sets. The most popular nightlife area is the Exotic Street, which is home to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and clubs. You can go to Arab restaurants to smoke shisha, enjoy the disco KTV bars, or go to a leisure place to get a massage. Some of the most popular bars and nightclubs in Yiwu include the Means Club and the 88 Club, which is one of the biggest nightclubs in Yiwu.

• Binwang Night Market: a Must-see Night Market in Yiwu!

Binwang Night Market is also called Santing Road Night Market because the road where the night market is located is called Santing Road. Binwang Night Market is the largest night market in Yiwu, where you can find clothes, shoes, hats, accessories, and household items, and you can also feel the joy of bargaining. Tired of shopping, you can sit down and taste the local snacks in Yiwu.

Opening Hours: 6 pm – 3 am

Address: No. 19, Santing Road, Yiwu City

• Old Train 1970 Cultural and Creative Park

The predecessor of the Cultural and Creative Park is the old railway station in Yiwu and the factory buildings and warehouses built around 1970. After the renovation, the usable area is about 40,000 square meters. After the renovation, the old factory buildings have become fashionable restaurants, design studios, book bars, and other stores. Each store integrates innovation into retro, recording the historical footprint of an era.

This is also a place for Internet celebrities to check in. At night here, there are various bars, restaurants, and book bars, which are very atmospheric.

Address: No. 135, Chengzhong North Road

• A’Lian Massage

After a tiring day’s itinerary, if you want to experience self-cultivation in China, we recommend you to go to A’Lian Massage. It has more than a dozen chain stores in Yiwu, the earliest established in 1998. There are many professional massage therapists.

Business hours: 12:00-02:00

• Means Bar

Means Club is the most famous and the best club in Yiwu, it attracts many local and foreign friends. It opens at 20:30. Each cup of beer and cocktail in the club is around RMB40. At about 21:30 there will be dancing shows. You’d better to make a reservation in advance because it’s really hot.

Address: 4F, No.218 Binwang Road

Opening Hours: 20:30-02:00

Address: 4th Floor, International Building, No. 218, Binwang Road

Where to Stay in Yiwu

If you’re planning a trip to Yiwu, and wondering where to stay, we recommend the Shangri-La Hotel, Best Western Premier Hotel, Marriott Hotel, and Wanda Realm Hotel. Each of these hotels offers luxurious guestrooms, fine dining outlets, and great amenities. Whether you’re looking for a hotel in the heart of Yiwu or one that’s located in the central business district, there’s something for everyone.