About Yiwu Yiwu is located in central Zhejiang province. It is a moderately sized city which has a population reaching 1.8 million. At any one time over half of the city’s population consists of a large number of short and long term visitors here making use of the excellent business environment. The town is home to the largest commodity wholesale market in China which has facilitated the explosive growth of the town’s economy.

Portrait of Yiwu “Money glitters through the streets of this city in its street smart residents and seemingly never ending stream of pristine black BMW and Audi’s that rumble down the grid structure of its roads. Glimpses’ of the mysterious mountains which stand guard at the outskirts lend a spacious feel. In the city centre small streets pulsating with the buzz of organic Chinese life and commerce rub shoulders with plush new hotels, shopping centres and banks. In the suburbs new residential developments are being constructed at a lightening pace. Taxis constantly plough the arteries of the city and offer an inexpensive way of quickly for A to B. Eastward of the bustle of the centre stand the mighty international trade city whose impressive architecture stretches down the Chouzhou Road on a scale that dwarfs the surrounding area. The fast growth of Yiwu affords exiting opportunities to both the visitor and resident alike. Its future is a bright one. ”

History of Yiwu Reflection on the ways of the ancient rattle drum traders who paved the way for modern day Yiwu’s commodity success. "Nian San Li, the town that lies directly to the east of Yiwu’s international Trade City distinguishes itself as the spiritual birthplace of the commodities boom in Yiwu due to the lineage of its travelling traders. Since ancient times the practice of vendors taking goods on journeys to remote villages for sale and exchange prospered in Nian San Li while its neighbours shunned it. The rattle drum was the core element of the practice, used by the vendor to alert visitors of his presence when coming into a village and stimulate interest in his or her goods items. Traders would often set of in pairs laden with goods like small daily use items and make the journey to Jiangxi province where they would slip up to take different paths through rural areas to meet later. A sculpture of a travelling vendor is on display in the Knitting and Hosiery Market (Socks Market) to preserve the importance of this valuable part of local history. It encourages us not to forget the hard work done by individual vendors which has given the foundation for the prosperity of the current generation."