The Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center, a flagship project of Yiwu‘s sixth-generation market, officially opened on October 14, 2025. Located in Zhejiang Province, approximately 300 kilometers from Shanghai, the center spans 1.25 million square meters and integrates five zones: market, office buildings, commercial district, apartments, and a Digital Trade Hub. This development underscores Yiwu’s transition from a traditional trade hub to a comprehensive digital-commerce ecosystem, reinforcing its role in China’s economic landscape.
Market Evolution and Digital Integration
Yiwu, renowned as the world’s largest small-commodity wholesale market, has initiated this upgrade in response to the digital era of trade. The center hosts vendors specializing in fashion jewelry, creative and trendy toys, and smart equipment, with over half being second-generation merchants, next-generation start-ups, or brand and IP owners. More than 3,700 new stall-holders are utilizing and selling AI tools, enabling buyers to navigate the facility efficiently using AI for product and contact localization.
AI-Driven Innovations and Efficiency Gains
Tenants at the center are leveraging in-house AI solutions, such as the Xiaoshang AI Video Creator, to streamline operations. According to Zhou Jian, General Manager of Yiwu China Commodities City Big Data Co., Ltd., this tool allows vendors to produce promotional videos in minutes by speaking to a camera and adding text, generating multilingual versions. Previously, creating one video took up to a week and cost over RMB 1,000 (approximately $140), significantly reducing time and expenses. Cao Fanyue, owner of Muqi Jewelry, noted that AI has transformed silver-jewelry development from a capital-intensive process to an instant design solution, boosting monthly output to over 200 new SKUs.
Infrastructure and Digital Platforms
The center features a high-level Digital Trade Hub supported by three core platforms: Chinagoods for digital trading services, a digital supply-chain platform for logistics efficiency, and Yiwu Pay for settlement. These platforms facilitate end-to-end digital commerce, complemented by multiple digital empowerment scenarios. The expansion of AI large models, digital trade, and cross-border e-commerce aligns with broader trends in China’s push for innovation and international trade competitiveness.
