Yiwu: The Retail Sourcing Capital
Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, is home to the world's largest wholesale market — the Yiwu International Trade City (Futian Market). This 5-million-square-meter complex houses 75,000+ booths selling everything from Christmas decorations to kitchen gadgets, toys, jewelry, and hardware. For small businesses and Amazon sellers, Yiwu is unmatched for product variety, low prices, and flexible MOQs.
Market Districts
District 1: Toys, decorations, jewelry, bags. District 2: Hardware, kitchenware, small appliances. District 3: Stationery, sporting goods, beauty. District 4: Socks, textiles, daily necessities. District 5: Imported and high-end goods. Plan 2-3 full days. Most booths open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Saturday.
Before You Go
Create a product list with specifications and target prices. Download a market map. Bring notepad, business cards, measuring tape, and digital scale. Install WeChat. Consider hiring a Yiwu sourcing agent for your first visit.
During Your Visit
Start early. Walk the entire relevant district first. Take photos with permission. Collect business cards systematically. Ask about MOQs — Yiwu suppliers often accept 10-100 units. Negotiate — start at 50-60% of quoted price. Don't buy impulsively — compare quotes from multiple vendors.
Yiwu Fair
Location: Yiwu International Expo Center. Dates: October 21-25 (annual). Exhibitors: 2,500+ manufacturers. Buyers: 80,000+ from 200 countries. Smaller and more focused than Canton Fair — excellent complement for an October sourcing trip.
Logistics
Yiwu has world-class logistics: freight forwarders line the streets around the market, LCL consolidation is widely available, the Yiwu-Ningbo railway connects to Ningbo Port, and the China-Europe Railway originates from Yiwu (18-20 days to Europe).
Payment
Alibaba Trade Assurance for online orders. WeChat Pay and Alipay for samples and small transactions. Cash (USD or RMB) for on-the-spot purchases. T/T for orders above $1,000. For orders above $10,000, CSMG Supply Chain provides LC credit financing that suppliers trust.
First-Time Tips
Stay near the trade city. English is limited — install a translation app or hire an interpreter ($80-150/day). Yiwu has excellent international dining. Didi works with a Chinese phone number. Best seasons: April-May and October-November.