The Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center, a flagship project of Yiwu’s sixth-generation market in Zhejiang province, officially opened on October 14, 2025. Covering a building area of 1.25 million square meters, the center integrates five functional zones: a marketplace, business offices, a commercial district, apartments, and a digital trade port. The marketplace alone spans 410,000 square meters with over 3,700 storefronts, focusing on emerging industries such as fashion jewelry, creative collectibles, and smart devices. Notably, 57% of vendors specialize in proprietary brands or IP-driven products, highlighting a shift toward innovation in China’s wholesale sector.
Digital Integration and Cross-Border Trade
Equipped with cross-border digital networks, the Gen-6 market facilitates real-time communication and negotiations with international buyers, supporting features like live-streaming for product showcases. This allows customers to experience products virtually from anywhere, while international buyers in Yiwu benefit from enhanced online services. The setup aims to strengthen Yiwu’s role as a global trade hub, leveraging digital tools to bridge domestic and cross-border commerce in line with China’s push for digital economy growth.
Yiwugo.com, the official platform of the Yiwu Commodity Market, began onboarding merchants for the new market in September 2025. By the opening, nearly 1,300 stores had registered on Yiwugo, uploading close to 16,000 products. The platform plans to further expand its catalog, supporting the market’s evolution as a key node in China’s supply chain and export infrastructure.
AI Innovations in Trade Services
In response to the rise of AI as a traffic driver, Yiwugo introduced AI-powered shopping assistants on its website and mobile app in September 2025. These assistants provide instant answers to buyer inquiries, intelligent solutions, and tailored purchasing recommendations. Premium storefronts receive exclusive one-on-one customer support, reflecting efforts to enhance transaction success rates through technology upgrades. This move aligns with broader trends in China’s market innovation, where AI is increasingly integrated into e-commerce to optimize buyer-seller interactions.
Many storefronts in the Gen-6 market are upgraded versions of previous setups, emphasizing proprietary brands and digital capabilities. This development underscores Yiwu‘s ongoing transformation from a traditional wholesale center to a modern, tech-driven trade ecosystem, contributing to regional economic growth and China’s position in global trade networks.
