Yiwu Market Guide: Districts, Products and How to Buy
By Hasan Olwan · Last updated: September 24, 2026
Yiwu Market, officially Yiwu International Trade City, is the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities. It sits in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, about 300 km south of Shanghai, and holds more than 75,000 shops across five main districts. Buyers from around the world come here for toys, gifts, homeware, accessories, stationery and thousands of other products, often at low minimum orders. We’ve been buying in this market since 2009.
What is Yiwu Market?
Yiwu Market is a permanent wholesale market where manufacturers and traders show their products in small booths, open year-round except for the Chinese New Year holiday. You walk the halls, see samples, talk prices and MOQs (minimum order quantities) directly with suppliers, and place orders on the spot. It opened in its current form in 2002 and covers about 5.5 million square meters.
How big is Yiwu Market?
About 5.5 million square meters, with more than 75,000 shops. If you spent three minutes at each booth for eight hours a day, you would need more than a year to see them all. Plan your categories before you arrive.
What does Yiwu Market sell? District by district
| District | Main products | Size |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Toys, plush and inflatables, jewelry, hair accessories, festival and wedding crafts, porcelain, crystal, photo frames | 340,000 m², 8,000+ booths |
| District 2 | Bags, suitcases, umbrellas, hardware, kitchenware, electronics, auto parts | 600,000 m², 8,000+ booths |
| District 3 | Buttons, zippers, cosmetics, glasses, pens, paper, office supplies, sporting goods, art supplies | 460,000 m², 8,000+ shops |
| District 4 | Daily necessities, knitwear, footwear, belts, scarves, towels, underwear | 1,080,000 m², 16,000 booths |
| District 5 | Imported goods, bedding, fabrics, auto and motorcycle accessories, hotel and festival supplies | 640,000 m² |
Source: Wikipedia, “Yiwu International Trade City”, checked September 2026. Categories shift over time; confirm before your trip. Our team walks these districts every week, and the layout above matches what we see.
What time does Yiwu Market open and close?
The market opens around 9:00 and closes around 17:00, seven days a week. Many booths start packing up from mid-afternoon, so do your serious buying in the morning.
Is Yiwu Market open on Sunday?
Yes. The market opens every day of the week, including weekends. It closes for the Chinese New Year holiday, usually for about 2 to 3 weeks between late January and mid-February. The exact dates are announced each winter, so check with us before you book.
Where is Yiwu Market?
The main market sits in the north of Yiwu city, Zhejiang Province, China. Yiwu is about 280 km from Shanghai and about 110 km from Hangzhou by rail, and high-speed trains connect it to both. For routes and travel times, see our Yiwu, China travel guide.
How to buy in Yiwu Market: 5 practical tips
- Pick your districts first. Use the table above. Walking the wrong district wastes a day.
- Take a photo of every booth card. Each booth has a number. Write the price and MOQ on the card you collect.
- Ask for the MOQ per color or style, not just per product. For example, “500 pieces” can mean 500 per color.
- Pay a deposit, not the full amount. The usual deposit is 30%.
- Arrange collection and consolidation. Every supplier delivers separately. Someone in Yiwu has to receive, check and combine the goods. That’s what our consolidation warehouse does.
For a real order broken down line by line, read How to Buy from Yiwu Market.
Can I buy from Yiwu Market online?
Yes, partly. The market runs an official online platform, Chinagoods, with listings from many booths. Online listings are a good start for research, but prices, stock and MOQs change. You’ll still need someone to confirm details, check quality and collect the goods.
Visit with a local agent
A guided visit saves days of walking and avoids costly misunderstandings. We plan the route, translate at every booth, record your orders, and follow up after you leave.
Related: Yiwu, China · How to buy from Yiwu Market · Yiwu sourcing agent