This is our autumn 2026 report on Yiwu market. We are writing it on 3 October, in the middle of China's Golden Week, from the market operator's own publications, its Yiwu Index research and official calendars. It is not a diary of shop visits. Where a source is the operator's own assessment, we say so.
If this is your first trip to Yiwu, start with the Yiwu market guide. This page covers what has changed and what to check this autumn.
What changed in the market
Six districts, eight markets. On 24 September 2026 the market operator (CCC Group, whose official platform is chinagoods.com) published an overview of all its markets. Yiwu International Trade City now has Districts 1 to 6. Together with the Huangyuan garment market and the International Production Materials Market, that makes eight specialised markets with more than 80,000 shops.
District 6 after its first year. District 6 is the market part of the Global Digital Trade Center, opened in October 2025, east of District 5. It covers 410,000 m² on 4 floors with more than 5,200 shops. The operator lists the floors like this:
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| Floor | Goods |
|---|---|
| 1F | fashion jewellery, creative trend toys, fashion fabrics |
| 2F | skincare and beauty supplies, baby and children's goods |
| 3F | household and health goods, drones and robots, AR/VR equipment, travel goods |
| 4F | smart devices, IP trend products |
If you have only ever walked Districts 1 to 5, plan time for District 6 too, especially for toys and travel goods. For IP products (film, game and cartoon characters), ask for a written licence that covers the country where you sell. More on that in branded toys from China.
What sits where in the older districts. From the same overview: District 1 flowers, toys, jewellery and crafts; District 2 bags, umbrellas, hardware, small appliances; District 3 stationery, eyewear, cosmetics, sewing accessories; District 4 socks, daily-use goods, hats, underwear; District 5 imported goods, bedding, curtain fabric, vehicle accessories. From our own work: bags and suitcases are in District 2, mainly on the 1st floor, and office and school supplies in District 3, mainly on the 1st and 2nd floors. Some categories overlap.
Opening hours. The operator says each market's hours are as posted on site. Tables of opening hours found online are old or unofficial, so check the hours before you travel.
What the operator's data shows
The Yiwu Index is overseen by China's Ministry of Commerce and compiled under the Yiwu city government, with CCC Group collecting the data. It is built mainly from a price index and a market activity index, sampling more than 3,000 products. It was upgraded to version 2.0 in October 2024.
On 28 September 2026 the Yiwu Index published a report on festive and party goods. In short:
- Where: festive goods in Yiwu are concentrated in District 1.
- When buyers order: orders start in December, most goods ship from March to July of the following year, and August and September close out remaining orders for South America and several EU countries. In October shops serve demand for holiday decorations inside China, and straight after that New Year product selection begins.
- What is changing in the products: more decorations that react to sound, light or movement, more recycled-paper and reusable decorations, and designs adapted to local customs in different countries.
This is the operator's view of the global market. It is not a forecast of what will sell in particular cities in your country. Use it as a list of questions.
Christmas and New Year: why October is late by sea
Once the goods are ready in China, allow 60 to 75 days via Suez or 70 to 90 days around Africa. Production comes before that period. Transit times are approximate. We confirm the exact time and route for each shipment, based on the current situation on the sea lanes.
So if you order decorations in early October that still have to be made, they will not arrive by sea in time for December sales. That matches the rhythm in the Yiwu Index report: orders for a festive season start in December of the year before.
What you can do this autumn:
- Stock goods. Ask what is ready now and in what quantity. If anything can still make this season, it is ready goods, and even they arrive by sea in December at the earliest. Get the timing confirmed for the shipment before you pay.
- Choose for 2027. Autumn is a good time to see what is new in the shops, take samples and compare them calmly.
- Winter goods not tied to one date. For gloves, hats and scarves the arrival day matters less than for Christmas decorations, but check the timing before you order.
More on this category: Christmas decorations and gifts from China.
Checklist for an autumn trip
The table lists categories where the sources show change, with the questions to ask in the shop. Whether the goods will sell in your shops is your call.
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| Category | Where to look | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and fabric festive decorations | District 1 | Whether the design fits your holidays and language, carton size, a sample |
| Decorations with light, sound or sensors | District 1 | Battery or adapter type, electrical documents, whether it can be shipped; see LED lighting and lithium batteries |
| Trend toys | District 1, District 6 (1F) | Test reports (for example EN 71) and markings for the exact model; importing toys |
| IP character products | District 6 (4F) | A written licence for your market, not just a photo |
| Office and school supplies | District 3, 1st and 2nd floors | Minimum per design, retail packaging; stationery and office supplies |
| Bags and suitcases | District 2, 1st floor | Material, zips, minimum per colour |
| Travel and household goods | District 6 (3F), Districts 2 and 4 | A sample, packaging, whether the goods match the photo; home goods |
For every item you pick, write down the shop number, item number, material, minimum per variant, pieces per carton, carton size and gross weight, and whether the goods are in stock or made to order. Put the carton sizes into the CBM calculator.
Dates up to spring 2027
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| Date | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 7 October 2026 | China's National Day holiday (Golden Week) | China State Council |
| 15 to 19 October 2026 | Canton Fair phase 1: Advanced Manufacturing (Guangzhou, not Yiwu) | Canton Fair |
| 23 to 27 October 2026 | Canton Fair phase 2: Quality Home Life | Canton Fair |
| 31 October to 4 November 2026 | Canton Fair phase 3: Better Life | Canton Fair |
| October to December 2026 | When China's holiday schedule for the next year usually appears; the 2027 schedule was not out as of 3 October 2026 | State Council notices for 2023 to 2026 |
| 6 February 2027 | Chinese New Year | Hong Kong Government, 2027 calendar |
We advise against buying trips from 1 to 8 October and around Chinese New Year. Plan production and shipping around both holidays.
Market closure for Chinese New Year. As of 3 October 2026 the 2027 notice had not been published. For 2026 the operator signed it on 2 February 2026, about two weeks before the holiday. Districts 1 to 5 closed on the afternoon of 13 February and, together with the Global Digital Trade Center, reopened at 08:30 on 28 February. The Imported Commodities Mall in District 5 reopened earlier, on 19 February. Do not simply shift these dates to 2027. More in Chinese New Year 2027.
How to use this on a trip
Transcont has worked in China since 2006. We have our own warehouses in Yiwu and Ningbo and four employed agents in China who work in English and Chinese. The team communicates in Macedonian, Serbian and English. Our team in China includes people who speak Macedonian, and translators join when needed.
On a Yiwu buying trip you get a personal market agent. You order from several suppliers, and every item's supplier, product, quantity, price and specifications are recorded. Before shipment you receive one consolidated order file to approve. The goods are collected in our Yiwu warehouse, where quantity, condition and specifications are checked against the order, and you get a photo and video report. If something is not in the market, we source it across China.
A trip helps both buyers who know what they want and those still deciding. Glasses that look the same may cost 1, 2.5 or 5 RMB, with different quality. On a trip you choose the exact goods, quality and price in person. Some clients we have worked with for 15 years still visit once or twice a year for variety and new products.
If you need a specific product with clear specifications, such as 10 CNC machines, you can source it remotely: a sourcing agent collects and compares factory offers. For 100 different small items, the trip is the better choice. With an individual agent you often have no local contact or company in the Balkans to turn to directly. Our head office is in Skopje. For how the market compares with 1688 and Alibaba, see 1688 vs Alibaba vs Yiwu.
Next step
If you are planning an autumn or winter trip, send us the categories you are interested in, rough quantities and when you would travel. That makes it easier to arrange the agent and your days in the market. Write to us through the contact form or read the details of the Yiwu buying trip.
