The Yiwu International Trade City in Zhejiang province, China, resumed operations on February 28, 2026, following the Lunar New Year holiday, with 80,000 shops opening to domestic and international buyers. At 8:00 a.m., nine major markets—including the Global Digital Trade Center, Districts 1–5 of Yiwu International Trade City, the International Production Materials Market, Huangyuan Garment Market, and Binwang 158 Cultural & Creative Park (indoor section)—began operations simultaneously, drawing a steady flow of customers.
Record-Breaking Foot Traffic and Order Surge
Visitor statistics from Yiwu China Commodities City indicated that offline foot traffic on reopening day reached a record high, marking the strongest Spring Festival opening performance on record. Buyers from Dubai, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa converged on the market, with one Dubai-based buyer reporting orders for 30 containers to be shipped to Middle Eastern countries. This activity underscored Yiwu’s role as a global sourcing center, with merchants coordinating factory schedules to meet demand.
Digital Engagement and New Product Launches
Online engagement mirrored the offline surge, with Chinagoods (the market’s official digital platform) livestreaming the reopening and attracting over 3.879 million cumulative views. Buyers used the platform to browse products, request quotations, and place orders digitally, supporting global sourcing without physical travel. More than 30,000 new SKUs were uploaded on reopening day, including Year of the Horse-themed merchandise, fashion accessories, smart home products, and daily consumer goods, reflecting merchants’ efforts to refine product portfolios during the holiday.
AI Integration and Economic Context
Yiwu’s AI large-model system saw increased usage across 14 application scenarios, such as AI-assisted product design and AI-generated content for e-commerce, strengthening the market’s digital trade capabilities. With 2026 as the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period, Yiwu is positioning itself as both a domestic consumption hub and a global sourcing center, leveraging these technologies to advance global supply integration. Merchants also reported strong first-day sales, including one toy merchant at the Global Digital Trade Center securing orders exceeding RMB 1 million, signaling sustained demand from long-term clients.
