Yiwu - China

If you are a trader, retailer or wholesaler and buy from China, Yiwu would be an important city in your itinerary of places to be be visited for sourcing in China. Located in South China, 250 Kms west of Shanghai this is a town with a series of markets and market places where buyers from around the world as well as from within China source goods ranging from household goods to cosmetics to costume jewellery and apparel and footwear.

Early Morning Yiwu Skyline

Yiwu in winter gets extremely cold with temperatures dropping to minus 5 to 10 degrees. Early December ( 1st Dec) when I visited, the temperature was 0 degrees. The weather is misty with cold winds and one needs heavy woollens to ward of the cold.

View of the Futian wholesale market

The Best Western Ocean Hotel in Yiwu

My favourite place to stay when in Yiwu is the Best Western Ocean Hotel - a comfortable business hotel that is efficient and friendly , adjacent to the futian market and has staff that can speak in English. The hotel's Chinese restaurant has some excellent Chinese food which should not be given a miss. It should be remembered that all Chinese restaurants close by 8.30 so if you are in the mood of a Chinese meal, be sure to plan an early dinner.

An interesting restaurant in Yiwu called Picassa that serves continental food

Night shot from my hotel window of Yiwu market