Why take a buying trip to Yiwu
Yiwu is where small goods from China are bought: toys, gifts, Christmas decorations, office supplies, home goods and jewellery. Our strongest operational presence is in Yiwu, where we have our own office, our own warehouse and our own agents. In a few days you can see hundreds of products, examine them on the spot and talk to the sellers, with our agent at your side.
The trip is the right choice when:
- You are looking for new products and new suppliers.
- You buy a wide assortment in smaller quantities.
- You want to assess a supplier in person before you pay.
In person, you choose the exact goods, quality and price. Drinking glasses that look alike may cost 1, 2.5 or 5 RMB and differ in quality. Some clients we have worked with for 15 years still come to Yiwu once or twice a year, for the variety and the new products.
What you get with an agent at your side
Our four agents are employed by Transcont and work in English and Chinese. On the trip, one of them is with you throughout. Your agent:
- Takes you through the districts and floors where your goods are, on a route prepared in advance.
- Negotiates in Chinese and translates the prices and terms.
- Records the minimum order quantity (MOQ), price, lead time and packaging for each product.
- Tells you when a shop is a trader and when it is a factory's sales outlet.
- Arranges a factory visit where needed.
- Helps with the hotel and with transport in the city.
Where needed, the agent also travels with you to another market in China or to a factory in another city.
We have been in China since 2006. A wholesaler of seasonal gifts and Christmas goods that we work with imports more than 15 containers a year and does its buying in Yiwu.
What is included
- A personal agent at the market. The agent takes you through Yiwu International Trade City and conducts the negotiations.
- Orders with several suppliers. We place and follow the orders with every shop you choose.
- A record of every item. For each order we note the supplier, product, quantity, price and specifications.
- One document with all your orders. You receive a single list of the items from all suppliers, to review and approve before shipment.
- Collection in our Yiwu warehouse. The goods from all suppliers are delivered to our warehouse before they are shipped.
- A check of quantity and quality. We compare the goods received with the order: quantity, condition and specifications. You receive a photo and video report.
- Sourcing beyond Yiwu. If the market does not have an item, we look for it among suppliers across China.
The method of payment is agreed for each order.
Before you travel
Before the trip we need the following from you:
- A list. Categories, approximate quantities and target prices, with photos of the products you already sell.
- A budget. The amount you plan to put into the first order decides whether we prepare a consolidated shipment or a full container.
- The destination. The country the goods are for. Toys and electrical products need documents, so we check in the shop whether the supplier has them.
- Company details. We need them for the invoices. Tell us also about any carton or pallet limits at your warehouse.
- Dates. Agree them with us before you book flights, so that we can reserve an agent for your dates. We agree the scope and the price of the service at the same time.
You can estimate the cost to your warehouse with the landed cost calculator.
Which district for which goods
Yiwu International Trade City is divided into districts. The overview below follows Chinagoods, the official market platform, and Yiwugo:
← Scroll to see all columns →
| District | Main goods | Size |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Artificial flowers and toys (floor 1); hair accessories and jewellery (floor 2); festival and Christmas goods, decorations, ceramics and photo frames (floor 3) | more than 10,000 shops |
| District 2 | Bags, umbrellas, hardware, tools, kitchen and bath, electrical goods, watches | more than 8,000 shops |
| District 3 | Pens, stationery, office supplies, cosmetics, eyewear, sports goods, art supplies | more than 8,000 shops |
| District 4 | Socks, shoes, daily necessities, gloves, underwear, scarves, belts | about 16,000 shops |
| District 5 | Imported goods, bedding, fabric, pet supplies | about 7,000 shops |
The Global Digital Trade Center, opened on 14 October 2025, adds smart devices, trendy toys, fashion and jewellery.
Bags and suitcases are in District 2, mainly on the 1st floor. Office and school supplies are in District 3, mainly on the 1st and 2nd floors. The division is simplified, and some categories overlap.
Our agents know the current layout and prepare the route before you arrive. More in our Yiwu market guide.
The market is open from about 9:00 to 17:00 or 17:30 every day (Yiwu Market Guide, an unofficial source).
After you return home
The agent follows your orders and stays in regular contact with the sellers. Every order is on record with its shop and item numbers, including anything agreed by phone. Each supplier delivers the goods to our Yiwu warehouse, where we count them, compare them with the order and the sample, and send you a photo and video report. We follow up any delivery that does not arrive. More on the quality control page.
We also collect the invoices and the packing list that your forwarder will need and check them against the goods. See import documents.
When everything has arrived, we consolidate the goods. Smaller orders travel as a consolidated shipment (LCL), larger ones in a full container. Goods from Yiwu usually leave from Ningbo, the nearest port, about 190 to 220 km away.
When to go
- Avoid Chinese New Year and Golden Week. The market is closed for a long period around Chinese New Year, and we confirm the exact dates with our agents. Avoid trips from 1 to 8 October as well, during China's National Day holiday (Golden Week). Plan production and shipping around both holidays.
- Buy Christmas and seasonal goods early. For stock in your warehouse by early October, the goods should be ready by mid-July via Suez or by early July around Africa. With an assumed 45 days of production, that means ordering by early June or mid-May, with the trip before that. These dates are approximate. We confirm the exact time and route for each shipment, based on the current situation on the sea lanes.
- School and office supplies. Order early in the year, so that stock arrives before the September school season.
- The Canton Fair. It is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, and its autumn session runs from mid-October to early November. If you combine it with Yiwu, plan Yiwu before or after the fair.
Arrange your trip
Send us the categories you are looking for, approximate quantities, photos of the products or links to them, when you plan to travel and the destination of the goods. We will propose a plan by district and tell you what can be done on the spot and what the agent should prepare before you arrive.
