Sourcing from Yiwu: The Best Wholesale Markets to Visit

The city of Yiwu is considered a "paradise" for all global importers and shopping enthusiasts. If you want to learn how to conduct sourcing or shopping in Yiwu, you are in the right place.

Since the creation of the first market in 1982, it has evolved to contain more than 20 markets, distributed throughout the city. It includes important markets, such as the Futian market(Yiwu International Trade City), furniture market, and Huangyuan clothing market. In addition to these markets, there are markets for fasteners, auto parts, and precious stones.

In this complete guide, we will provide you with detailed market and transportation information, a comparison of sourcing from Yiwu and 1688. Let's get it!

The Heart of Yiwu

As it's named, Heart of Yiwu is located in the downtown of Yiwu. It is now a landmark building of Yiwu, which won the ICSC China Shopping Centre & Retailer Awards 2018.

It covers a commercial area of 146,000m² with 2100 parking spaces. A lot of luxury brands like Gucci, Dior, Michael Kors, and popular brands like ZARA and UNIQLO have entered this mall since it opened. It also has a video game city and a cinema with an IMAX screen on the top floor.

The project combines large-scale commercial, dining, and entertainment facilities in an urban complex. In addition, landscaped plazas, indoor and outdoor pedestrian streets, and underground parking will be provided. Its purpose is to provide tourists with a comprehensive shopping, food, beverage, cultural, and leisure activity experience in a single destination.

Key Features:

1. Central commercial and lifestyle hub in Yiwu

2. Mix of retail, dining, entertainment, and office spaces

3. Popular meeting point for residents and visitors

More Information:

• Address: No. 9, Gongren West Road, Yiwu City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province

• Opening Hours: 10:00 am~10:00 pm

The Glory Shopping Mall

Glory Mall is located in the CBD of Yiwu and next to the Shangri-La Hotel. It is considered one of the first malls designed to include outdoor spaces. Compared to the Heart of Yiwu, the target is a more mid-range consumer segment.

There are different categories of open-air shopping malls. Including men's and women's fashion, fine dining, as well as typical international restaurants, electronics stores, and travel agencies. It is a comfortable place for shopping and short breaks.

As a comprehensive shopping center, Glory Mall features multiple floors of retail stores, a large hypermarket, a cinema, and a wide selection of restaurants. It also offers a variety of family-friendly entertainment and experiential attractions. This is a great place to shop, and you can stroll around the charming and crowded traditional consume center.

Glory Mall hosts a mix of international fashion & lifestyle brands and globally recognized food and beverage chains, making it a popular destination for both locals and visitors.

Key Features:

1. Modern shopping mall with fashion-forward brands

2. Focus on apparel, accessories, and lifestyle products

3. Clean layout and comfortable sourcing environment

4. Suitable for buyers looking for trend-driven, mid-range products

More Information:

• Address: No. 6, Futian Road, Yiwu City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province

• Opening Hours: 10:00 am~10:00 pm

Yiwu Wanda Plaza

Yiwu Wanda Plaza covers an area of 650,000 square meters, is a large-scale urban complex integrating shopping, leisure, entertainment, and dining in one destination. Its integrated design supports both everyday needs and leisure activities, reflecting Yiwu's mainstream urban consumption patterns.

Located in a major commercial area of Yiwu, it represents a modern lifestyle center developed by Wanda Group, serving both residents and visitors. This is one of the city's most popular destinations for shopping, entertainment, and social activities.

Key Features:

1. Large-scale commercial complex operated by Wanda Group

2. Strong mix of retail, F&B, cinemas, and family entertainment

3. High foot traffic and strong brand presence

4. Good place to observe China's mainstream retail and branding strategies

More Information:

• Address: No. 9, Xinke Road, Yiwu City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province

• Opening Hours: 10:00 am~10:00 pm

Yiwu International Trade City

Yiwu International Trade City(also known as the Yiwu Futian Market) is considered one of the biggest and largest markets in the world. On its opening day in 2025, the market recorded a total footfall of 235,000 people.

Key Features:

1. World's largest wholesale market for small commodities

2. Over 75,000 booths covering daily-use products, gifts, accessories, home décor, and more

3. Export-oriented suppliers with strong OEM/ODM capabilities

4. One-stop sourcing destination for global buyers

More Information:

• Address: Chouzhou North Road, Yiwu City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province

• Opening Hours: 8:00 am~5:30 pm

As the vital node in global supply chains, it is divided into 6 big districts, where each one specializes in some categories of products, as follows:

District 1:

• F1: Toys, Artificial Flowers, Flower Accessories, Ornaments, and Crafts

• F2: Jewelry and Ornaments

• F3 Decoration Accessories, Porcelain, Glass, and Picture Frames

• F4: Factory Outlets and Taiwan Mall

District 2:

• F1: Suitcases, Bags, Umbrellas, Waterproof Clothing, and Packages

• F2: Hardware Tools & Accessories

• F3 Kitchen and Sanitary Utensils, Watches & Clocks

• F4: Hardware & Electric Appliances, Luggage & Handbags

• F5 Export Agencies

District 3:

• F1: Eyeglasses, Pen, Inks, and Paper Items

• F2: Office and Stationery, Sports Products, and Outdoor Products

• F3: Clothing Accessories, Zipper Buttons, and Cosmetics Products

• F4: Factory Direct Sale, including Sports and Clothing Accessories

District 4:

• F1: Socks Accessories

• F2: Knitted Products, Gloves, Hats

• F3: Shoes, Towels, and other Accessories

• F4: Belt Accessories, Scarf, Bra, and Underwear

• F5: Daily Necessities Accessories

District 5:

• F1: African Products, Jewelry & Crafts, and Health Products

• F2: Chinese Knot, DIY Craft, and Bedding

• F3: Curtain Fabric, Needle, Knit Fabric, and Knit Fabric

• F4: Car & Motorcycle Parts and all Auto Needs

• F5: Online Services

District 6:

• F1: Creative & Trending Toys, Fashion Jewelry, and Fabrics

• F2: Body Care Products, Toddler Daily Necessities, and Skincare Items

• F3: Travel Products, Luggage, Backpacks, and Travel Accessories

• F4: Smart Home Products, Medical Devices, and Consumer Electronics

• F5: Digital Gadgets, AR/VR Products, Drones, and Emerging Tech Categories

Here is a short table to help you compare the different districts.

Huangyuan Garment Market

The Huangyuan Garment Market is located in one of Yiwu's most active trading areas, bordered by Jiangbei Middle Road and Suzhou Road. As one of the city's major wholesale garment markets, it plays an important role in Yiwu's apparel sourcing ecosystem.

The market covers an area of 117 acres, a construction area of 420,000 square meters, and the market cost is 1.4 billion yuan. It's a large-scale complex with multiple floors above ground and one underground level, housing thousands of wholesale stalls.

The lower floors mainly focus on ready-to-wear apparel, including jeans, men's and women's clothing, sportswear, knitwear, and children's clothing. These floors are particularly popular among domestic and international buyers seeking fast-moving, competitively priced garments.

Upper floors are dedicated to industry-related services, brand showrooms, and local or regional garment enterprises, supporting both sourcing and business operations. With its high supplier density and wide product range, Huangyuan Garment Market is a key destination for apparel wholesalers and fashion buyers.

Key Features:

1. One of Yiwu's largest wholesale garment markets

2. Strong focus on ready-to-wear apparel and fast-fashion categories

3. High concentration of clothing suppliers and competitive pricing

4. Suitable for apparel wholesalers, retailers, and volume buyers

More Information:

• Address: No. 180, Jiangbin Middle Road, Yiwu City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province

• Opening Hours:

• Summer time: 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Winter time: 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Yiwu Night Market

Yiwu Night Market remains one of the most popular destinations for both locals and visitors, known for its wide variety of affordable consumer products. The market offers a diverse selection of items, including watches, shoes, clothing, jewelry, accessories, and everyday goods, making it a convenient place for casual shopping and trend discovery.

With its lively atmosphere and dense concentration of small vendors, the night market is especially suitable for sourcing low-cost products, impulse-buy items, and fast-moving consumer goods. It also provides valuable insight into local consumer preferences and emerging retail trends.

Key Features:

1. Wide variety of low-priced consumer products

2. Strong focus on accessories, fashion items, and daily-use goods

3. High foot traffic and vibrant evening shopping atmosphere

4. Ideal for trend spotting and small-quantity sourcing

More Information:

• Address: No. 158, Binwang Road, Yiwu City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province

• Opening Hours:

• Summertime: 6:30 PM till midnight.

• Wintertime: 5:30 pm till midnight.

Overview of Key Markets & Shopping Malls in Yiwu

How should I travel to Yiwu?

It's easy to go to Yiwu Market from your own country, and you can choose from a variety of possibilities. The following four routes are suggested to get to Yiwu:

Fly to Shanghai and Take a Car Ride

You can arrange for a car to take you from Shanghai Airport to Yiwu if you decide to fly into Shanghai.

You can simply locate transportation firms that provide vehicle journeys to Yiwu once you arrive at Shanghai Airport. The distance traveled in a car typically takes 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on traffic conditions, and costs approximately 800 RMB (130 USD). As an alternative, a common choice among tourists is to ride the train from Shanghai to Yiwu.

Fly to Hong Kong and Connect to Yiwu

Another option is to fly to Hong Kong and then catch a flight to Yiwu. Several airlines operate direct flights from Hong Kong to Yiwu, making it a convenient route for travelers. The flight duration from Hong Kong to Yiwu is approximately 2 hours.

Upon your arrival at Yiwu Airport, you can take a taxi or use public transportation to reach your desired destination in Yiwu. Taxis are readily available outside the airport, and some buses connect the airport to different parts of the city.

Fly to Beijing and Continue to Yiwu

Taking a domestic aircraft from Beijing to Yiwu is a convenient way to connect. Yiwu and Beijing are well connected, with numerous airlines running frequent services on this route. From Beijing to Yiwu, the flight takes about two hours.

After landing at Yiwu Airport, you have two options for getting to your preferred location in Yiwu: public transit or a cab. In addition to buses that travel around the city, taxis are available outside the airport.

Fly to Hangzhou and Arrange a Car Ride

If you choose to travel to Hangzhou, you can schedule transportation from Yiwu to Hangzhou Airport. Yiwu is around a 1.5-hour drive from Hangzhou Airport.

When you land at Hangzhou Airport, there are car ride options available to take you to Yiwu. The auto ride will set you back about 350 RMB (60 USD). For those who would rather go by train, there is also a train connection that runs between Hangzhou and Yiwu.

Sourcing from Yiwu VS 1688

Yiwu Market: The Ultimate Walk-In Shopping Experience

The Yiwu Market in China is distinguished by a tangible and personal shopping style, as buyers get to see the products before buying. This huge offline market provides an unparalleled opportunity for customers to physically assess items from vendors.

It is an ocean of stalls, selling goods varying from groceries, clothing, jewelry, and appliances, among many others. The customers can meet the sellers in person and this enables them to get more detailed information about what they want and how to modify their products.

Among them is the bargaining culture of Yiwu, which is crucial for buyers as it means they can strike appropriate prices with the sellers, especially for bulk deals.

But now, to visit Yiwu Market, a lot of time and traveling expenses have to be incurred, which might not be convenient with all buyers. Working with translators or Yiwu sourcing agents becomes imperative when there are language barriers between the buyer and the vendor.

The product that is available for examination is limited to the ones on display, making assessment of more varieties and quantities more difficult. That said, Yiwu is suitable for buyers who want to touch and talk to their suppliers and for markets where communications are too much of a hassle.

This traditional method of conducting transactions in the markets continues to be useful in modern times when quality control and relationship development are necessary. If you need any, EJET is here to help with Yiwu market guide.

1688: The Best Online Wholesale B2B Marketplace

1688, which was initiated by Alibaba, is an international e-commerce center that leaves no stone unturned and meets the requirements of buyers to the utmost satisfaction. This online venue makes it easier for individuals to search for thousands of products from numerous manufacturers along suppliers in a single go.

1688 allows users to speak to suppliers directly and be more straightforward in understanding the particulars of the product. Online functionalities comprise search filters that enhance the search experience and enable users to get specific products that meet the requirements of their businesses.

The signing and payment protocols are quite easy, as it has integrated payment platforms, which are easy and safe. Freight services are arranged directly at the facility of the buyer, or the services can be door-to-door delivery of goods. There's no need for negotiation and traveling, which means the use of the 1688 online marketplace makes it easier and more efficient when compared to conventional marketplaces.

Nevertheless, there are some USPs, like the difficulty in searching across the Chinese language platform. However, one must note that they are at the mercy of the suppliers, as only the pictures and descriptions available on the suppliers' site can be used.

That being said, though, the 1688 platform is a great option for procurement from oversea,s especially when one is looking for great deals with a more user-friendly interface.

Comparison Overview: Yiwu Market versus 1688

Similarly, Yiwu Market and 1688 serve a plethora of products for different industries to different types of buyers.

However, Yiwu Market allows such customers who are willing to travel to China to touch and have a good look at the products so that a decision can be made on whether to purchase the products or not. Its huge halls are filled with products of all kinds, such as textiles, electronics, toys, home goods, and even jewelry.

Like the Yiwu Market, 1688 does have a huge variety of options available, but in the form of the virtual world, at any hour of the day without traveling. The versatility of products available is so vast that the online platform is able to provide better searchability, making it easier to look for specific products and even compare them.

There might be a touch-and-feel experience for Yiwu, but the customers are confined to what is available at the market on the given day. But with 1688, the customers have the luxury of going through a sea of near-endless products with inventories being refreshed constantly.

Each platform serves a different purpose, whether Yiwu provides a form of physical assurance or 1688 provides a variety of options. Before committing to a decision, you should take into account their product demand, the quality assurance processes, and the level of convenience needed.

Tip: Global buyers looking for goods out of China should consider these two platforms as prime sources of goods

Affordable Prices: Yiwu Haggling Vs Listed Prices On 1688

When it comes to product sourcing, cost-effectiveness is an important criterion for consideration of the Yiwu Market and 1688.

In the Yiwu Market, it is common for buyers to haggle over the supplier's price, as this is a part of the business culture. So buyers who want to save money and make bulk purchases will find this scenario to their liking. But the same cost savings lie with the buyer negotiation and willingness to work with the buyer in order to meet the demand.

1688 has a standard price at times offers good pricing as it sources directly from the manufacturers. Additional savings for buyers who make bulk purchases may be realized through seasonal sales and discounts available through 1688.

While Yiwu requires face-to-face negotiations, the interaction can engender better pricing over the period, thus making Yiwu a better option.

Tip: When estimating sourcing costs, you should also consider other costs, such as traveling to Yiwu, or the customs and shipping costs for 1688. Finally, both platforms are capable of offering goods at competitive prices regardless of the business purpose or target market.

Choosing Wisely: Sourcing from Yiwu Market or 1688?

The sourcing strategy, business approach, and personal bias are the important aspects that help in deciding whether to use Yiwu Market or 1688.

In case the personal approach is really important and the buyer wants to interact with the purchasing persons and each purchased item, they should buy the products from the Yiwu Market.

However, for buyers seeking to get convenience or efficiency or who have the need to look through more types of goods, 1688 is their better option.

Both platforms have a language barrier, but one can simply use sourcing agents like EJET Procurement, who can assist in bridging the gap. Both techniques together are the best, explore the options available online while visiting Yiwu to finalize the goods to negotiate the prices.

The most important thing is to pick a suitable option for your business needs in terms of qualitative and quantitative product sourcing.

Final Words

Yiwu is a top choice for global buyers looking to source products. It offers an unparalleled range of goods in wholesale markets, garment centers, and retail areas.

Buyers have options like visiting Yiwu International Trade City in person or buying online through 1688. Each method fulfills unique business goals. The important part is knowing when to visit, when to opt for online sourcing, and how to effectively blend both approaches.

By having a solid plan and local assistance, buyers can lower risks, manage expenses, and develop trustworthy supply chains in Yiwu. If you need any help with Yiwu sourcing, contact us to get a free quote!

FAQ

When is the ideal time to go shopping in Yiwu?

Yiwu is busy with shoppers all year. However, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the best times. The weather is nice, making it easy to walk around the markets. Yiwu also has trade shows at certain times, attracting many sellers and buyers.

Try to avoid busy times like the Chinese New Year and National Day in early October, as it can get very crowded.

Can I bargain over prices at sourcing from Yiwu?

Yes, you can negotiate prices in Yiwu. Most sellers expect you to bargain, especially if you buy in bulk. It is normal to make a counteroffer or ask for discounts based on how many items you want. Building a good relationship with suppliers can also help lower prices in the long run.

Are there employees at the markets who can speak English?

Many suppliers in Yiwu speak English, but not all are fluent. You can find English-speaking staff in busy places like Yiwu International Trade City, especially in bigger stores. Smaller shops may have less English support. Having a translator or local partner with you can help with detailed questions and clear communication.

How can I set up shipping for the goods I buy?

Many sellers in Yiwu can help with shipping since they know how to export goods. You can also hire shipping brokers or freight forwarders to manage the logistics for you.