yzh317179958@163.comWe reply within one business day.

Markets · Yiwu

Yiwu Market Guide: 6 Districts, Markets, and Buying

Navigate Yiwu's six districts, specialist markets, and buying workflow. Plan your sourcing trip with detailed steps and essential tools.

· 7 min read

Yiwu Market Guide: 6 Districts, Markets, and Buying

Core Information for Yiwu Sourcing

First, the old “Navigate 5 Districts” guide is outdated; the new sixth district (Global Digital Trade Center) opened in October 2025 and must be included in your route. Second, do not assume a uniform market operating time of 08:30–17:00; at least the sixth district extends to 18:00, and each merchant’s hours may vary. Third, pre-screen products and merchants online before visiting, and convert online stall addresses into on-site routes. Fourth, understand that 'one box minimum order' does not mean you can mix colors and styles freely within a box. Fifth, verify all conditions for mixed orders, consolidation, and inspection. Finally, use a consistent quote sheet for each supplier.

Market Districts and Specialized Markets

District 1: Toys, accessories, crafts, and flowers. Pre-screen by product, floor, and stall number. Verify opening hours with each merchant. District 2: Hardware, bags, umbrellas, kitchenware, electronics, auto parts, and communication equipment. Use both product and merchant filters. Verify opening hours with each merchant. District 3: Textiles, buttons, cosmetics, glasses, stationery, and sports goods. Save online stall addresses. Verify opening hours with each merchant. District 4: Daily necessities, knitting, shoes, belts, scarves, towels, and underwear. Arrange stall numbers in walking order. Verify opening hours with each merchant. District 5: Imported goods, bedding, fabrics, auto parts, hotel and festival supplies, and e-commerce services. Check the guide map upon arrival. Verify opening hours with each merchant. District 6 (Global Digital Trade Center): Fashion accessories, skincare, trendy toys, and smart devices. Add this to your route. At least District 6 extends to 18:00, but verify with each merchant. Huangyuan Clothing Market: Ready-to-wear clothing. Do not be misled by the International Trade City's six-district layout. Verify with target merchants. International Production Materials Market: Equipment. Do not guess based on small commodity zones. Verify with target merchants.

Online Pre-Screening and On-Site Navigation

  1. Open the official online market platform.
  2. Filter by product, then by merchant.
  3. Narrow down to district, floor, and stall number.
  4. Save the complete stall address displayed for each result.
  5. Group by district and floor, and arrange stalls in walking order.
  6. Upon arrival, check the guide map. If the online address differs from the on-site index, follow the on-site index.

To navigate, download Amap Global (the map app almost everyone in China uses) from App Store. It has an English interface. For Android users, search for Amap in the app store.

Understanding Stall Addresses

Stall addresses must be read in a fixed order: District → Unit → Floor → Street → Door → Stall Number.

  • Use the “District” to determine which market building to go to.
  • Use the “Unit” and “Floor” to decide which elevator or passage to enter.
  • On the floor, narrow down using “Street” and “Door”.
  • Finally, use the “Stall Number” to verify the counter. If any part is missing, ask the merchant to provide it; do not guess based on product images.

Buying Workflow

  1. Photograph the product and include the stall number in the same record.
  2. Note the full Chinese company name, not just the English name or WeChat nickname.
  3. Ask for unit price tiers and box specifications.
  4. Confirm the sample and write its status into the quote record.
  5. If purchasing from multiple stalls, have the goods sent to the same consolidation warehouse.
  6. Arrange for inspection at the warehouse or before shipment.
  7. Record any short or incorrect items and request handling.
  8. Only arrange for consolidated shipping after the inspection passes.

Order Confirmation and Payment

Verify the following details before placing an order:

  • At the counter: Ask if they accept one-box orders and if mixing colors and styles within a box is allowed.
  • Packaging: Get the box specifications, gross weight, and net weight. Do not rely only on the unit price.
  • Consolidation: Confirm the costs for warehousing, sorting, and consolidating shipments.
  • Inspection: Write down how short or incorrect items will be handled, and decide whether to proceed based on this information.

Use a consistent quote sheet for each supplier:

Stall NumberChinese Company NameUnit Price TiersBox SpecificationsGross/Net WeightLead TimeDepositSample StatusShipping PortFill inFill inFill inFill inFill inFill inFill inFill inFill in

Essential Tools and Services

Set up Alipay before you fly, not at the airport. Download it from Alipay's official website, tap Me > Bank Cards, add a Visa or Mastercard, then upload your passport for verification. Verification usually clears in minutes but can take up to 72 hours, which is why doing it at the airport is a bad idea. Payments under ¥200 carry no fee; above that expect around 3%.

For WeChat Pay, follow China Navigator's step-by-step WeChat Pay setup guide to complete real-name verification and card binding. Ensure you can access the payment code before you leave.

Get a SIM card with your passport. Follow Trip.com's guide on getting a SIM card in China to choose between eSIM or physical SIM based on your device.

Google Translate does not work on local networks in mainland China. Download offline language packs and consider alternatives like Apple Translate, Microsoft Translator, Baidu Translate, or WeChat's scan-to-translate feature. For more details, see China Survival Kit's guide on Google Translate in China.

Use WeChat's scan-to-translate feature for labels and price tags. Test camera and scan permissions before reaching the counter. For instructions, see Trip.com's guide on WeChat QR codes.

For 240-hour visa-free transit, check the conditions on National Immigration Administration's official page. This is not a regular visa-free entry; ensure it matches your itinerary.

Complete the entry card online up to three days before arrival. If unable to fill it out online, follow the instructions at the port. The official entry card submission is free. If you encounter a paid service, stop and return to the official National Immigration Administration's entry card page.

Verify the Chinese company and the actual trading entity. For detailed steps, see Quality Inspection's guide on verifying Chinese companies.

Confirm the actual manufacturing entity. For more information, see Quality Inspection's guide on verifying manufacturers.

What it looks like

Frequently asked

How do I find the right district for my product category?

Use the official online market platform to filter by product, then by merchant, and narrow down to the specific district, floor, and stall number.

What should I do to prepare for my first visit to Yiwu?

Download Amap Global, set up Alipay and WeChat Pay, get a SIM card, and download offline language packs for translation apps.

How do I confirm the operating hours of the markets?

Check the operating hours with each individual merchant as they can vary. At least District 6 extends to 18:00, but always verify.

What are the key steps in the buying process?

Photograph the product, note the full Chinese company name, get unit price tiers and box specifications, confirm the sample, and arrange for inspection and consolidation.

How do I verify the company and the actual trading entity?

Follow the steps in Quality Inspection's guides on verifying Chinese companies and manufacturers to ensure you are dealing with the correct entities.

Related guides

On the ground in China

Want this handled by a person, not a browser tab?

A personal host meets you at arrivals, sets up payments and transport, and walks you through markets, factories or hospitals — transparent per-day pricing, itemized in writing before any payment.

See the arrival service Plan my trip

About this guide

Written and maintained by the China Unboxed team from Shenzhen. We keep guides current and general on purpose — always verify prices and policies against official sources before booking.

Related in this series

Tell us where you are going and what is getting in your way, and a person in Shenzhen will write a plan for your trip.

Ask for a written plan