In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover all the most frequently asked questions (and more) about this remarkable marketplace.
Dropshippers on Shopify, Amazon sellers, and sellers on other e-commerce platforms can all benefit from familiarity with Huaqiangbei.
If you want to use a professional dropshipping agent to import goods from China, you will find this Ultimate FAQ Guide to be a great resource.
Come on, then, let’s get started.
What Is Huaqiangbei?
The name “The No.1 Business Street of Electronic Products in China” is commonly applied to Huaqiangbei. It has a total area of about 1.45 km2 and features an incredible selection of high-quality goods and services.
Huaqiangbei initially focused primarily on electronic goods. Over the past few years, the beauty industry has attracted the attention of more and more entrepreneurs.
This is why electronic goods and personal care items are Huaqiangbei’s primary areas of expertise.
This well-known commercial district is situated close to the heart of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, making travel there both quick and easy.
The city of Huaqiangbei is home to 23 professional markets, 14 of which are large-scale commercial centers with an operating area of over 10,000 square meters each.
What Are “3C Products” of Huaqiangbei?
We have already established that Huaqiangbei’s forte lies in the electronic goods and beauty industry. It’s where the computer industry, the telecom industry, and the consumer-electronics industry all meet.
In Huaqiangbei, for instance, not only can you purchase an iPhone 12 for a reasonable price, but you can also purchase any and all iPhone 12 accessories you can think of, including, but not limited to, phone cases and tempered-glass screen protectors.
Huaqiangbei is well-known for the innovative and forward-thinking spirit of its electronic product manufacturers. In the early days of this electronic wonderland, you could purchase mobile phones in a variety of odd shapes, including those in the form of cars and cigarette boxes.
What Are the Tips for Sourcing Products from Huaqiangbei?
Even though Huaqiangbei is practically ideal for sourcing Chinese-made goods, you should still familiarize yourself with the local business culture before making any purchases. If you’re looking for advice, consider the following:
“A wise man shops around before making the decision to buy,” says an old Chinese proverb. Countless stores line the streets of Huaqiangbei. As a result, you can easily shop around and evaluate various attributes, such as prices, quality, etc.
It’s imperative that you haggle for a better deal. Don’t give up your ideal price without haggling. Huaqiangbei’s business owners are typically astute and seasoned professionals. They probably won’t give you the best deal right off the bat.
You had better be prepared to use Alipay or WeChat Pay, two of China’s most popular online payment systems. They’re all freely available on various app stores like the App Store, Google Play, etc. Since most stores will accept both Alipay and WeChat Pay, you can choose which one to install.
If you’re serious about doing business in the Chinese market, you might want to hire a sourcing/dropshipping agent.
How Can You Get to Shenzhen?
Bao’an District in Shenzhen, China is home to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. It’s 32 km from Shenzhen proper.
Flights depart directly for London Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Johannesburg International Airport, Moscow International Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Tokyo International Airport, Bangkok International Airport, Seoul International Airport, Manila International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, and many other major cities around the world.
You can visit the official website of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport for more details.
You might have to consider a flight transfer if there is no direct flight between Shenzhen and the city where you currently reside. You could, for instance, take a flight from Kinshasa in Zaire to Doha in Qatar, and from there to Shenzhen in China.
Another, more practical option is available:
Shenzhen is China’s economic heart, but its neighbor Hong Kong is far more well-known and powerful in the global economy. Travel time for tourists between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is typically between 30 and 70 minutes (including 20-40 minutes for customs clearance).
For this reason, you may also set Hong Kong as the destination of your journey, and then go to Shenzhen by Metro, bus, or taxi.
You can visit the official website of Hong Kong International Airport for more details.
The term “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” refers to the cluster of cities that includes Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and a number of smaller cities like Dongguan and Shunde.
How Can You Get to Huaqiangbei from Shenzhen?
Huaqiangbei is located about 4.3 kilometers from Shenzhen’s central business district, a distance that can be covered by foot in under 10 minutes. From your hotel, you can take a taxi, bus, the subway, or even walk to your destination!
To help you get around Shenzhen, we’ve provided you with a metro map.
What Are the Most Recommended Commercial Centers & Marketplaces in Huaqiangbei?
Huaqiangbei is home to numerous shopping malls and public markets. To prepare adequately, you should do some preliminary research on Huaqiangbei by combining a personal visit there with online investigation.
Some of the best malls and markets are listed below.
SEG Plaza (SEG Electronics Market)
The SEG Plaza skyscraper can be found in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei, Futian District. Shenzhen SEG Co., Ltd. invested in and constructed this mall themselves.
The main building at SEG Plaza stands 355.8 meters tall and spans a total of 71 floors and 164,300 square meters. At 509 feet, it is not only the tallest building made of reinforced concrete, but also the fifth-tallest in Shenzhen.
The SEG Electronics Market has been open since 1988 and occupies floors 1 through 10 of SEG Plaza. There are more than 3,000 stores spread across the market’s approximately 56,000 square meters of retail space.
In this area, there are between 60,000 and 100,000 customers visiting the area’s shops every day, and those businesses employ a total of around 15,000.
SEG Electronics Market sells hundreds of thousands of unique products across a wide variety of categories. These include but are not limited to: electronic spare parts, laptop and desktop computers (and the relevant spare parts), peripheral products, etc.
IBM, Compaq, Epson, Acer, NEC, Philips, Kingsound, Lenovo, etc. are just some of the well-known brands that have stores in SEG Plaza right now.
Feiyang Times Mansion (Second-hand Digital Products)
This market is famous for transactions of second-hand digital products, especially iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.
You might have noticed a phenomenon: Second-hand digital products like iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc are very popular among your friends or relatives. You can easily catch sight of shops selling second-hand Apple products in the community where you live.
It’s true! Selling or buying second-hand digital products (especially Apple’s product series) has nowadays become a big business, and Huaqiangbei’s Feiyang Times Mansion is perhaps Asia’s largest wholesale market for this business niche.
If you are interested in sourcing second-hand digital products from China at relatively low prices and in great varieties, you may have to consider coming over to Huaqiangbei and visit Feiyang Times Mansion, which is a wonderful place for wholesalers and distributors.
Mingtong Digital City
Although cosmetics now make up the bulk of the market’s offerings, the name “Mingtong Digital City” remains prominently displayed at the store’s entrance due to its impact and memorability.
As a result of the rise of e-commerce, the once-digital-only Mingtong Digital City has been converted into a cosmetics bazaar.
Ming Town’s High-Tech Core
In the Greater China Area, Shenzhen serves as a crucial commercial and transportation center. Shopkeepers in Mingtong Digital City can save a lot of money on cosmetics by ordering from duty-free stores in other countries.
Pacific Security Protection Market
The Pacific Security (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., established the Pacific Security Protection Market in 2001. SEG Plaza, Mingtong Digital City, Huaqiang Electronic World, etc. are all within walking distance, and it is situated in the heart of Huaqiangbei.
This shopping center is 1.5 square kilometers in size and is home to around 2,000 stores selling electronic goods related to security.
huaqiangbei
Hikvision, TCL, Karassn, and other well-known names in the security industry have all set up shop there. In conclusion, more than half of China’s top 100 security protection businesses are headquartered here.
No.5 Huaqiang Electronic World
Shenzhen Huaqiang Holdings Limited established the massive marketplace known as Huaqiang Electronic World in 1998.
It focuses on six main types of products: integrated circuits (ICs), security protection components (SPCs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), digital and communication products, and computers. Market participants also include ancillary services like repair shops, eatery complexes, and more.
Huaqiang Electronic World has been operating successfully for over ten years, during which time it has amassed a vast amount of knowledge and assets. More than 20,000 different companies, including producers, wholesalers, and retailers, are part of its extensive network of strategic business alliances.
To date, the Group has established twelve enormous electronic product markets in major cities like Shenzhen, Jinan, Shenyang, Shanghai, Liuzhou, Shaoguan, Huizhou, etc.
Huaqiang Electronic World is well-positioned for continued success thanks to the backing of the highly respected Group and the dedication of so many of our business partners.
Why Has Huaqiangbei Shifted Its Focus from Electronic Products to Cosmetics?
The Huaqiangbei business community has shifted its emphasis from selling electronics to selling cosmetics over the past few years. It’s because of the effects of online shopping malls like Taobao, JD Mall, and Pinduoduo.
Some shop owners had tried to sell clothing as a means of counteracting these effects, but they had ultimately failed because this was not a particularly effective strategy given the competition from online retailers.
After much research and development, a new industry has emerged that can help these entrepreneurs weather the storm of online shopping: the cosmetics industry, specifically targeting women.
Huaqiangbei store owners’ operational experience suggests that selling cosmetics sourced from duty-free shops around the world is a viable strategy for dealing with the increasing pressures posed by online marketplaces.
Professional markets such as SEG Plaza, Feiyang Times Mansion, and Pacific Security Protection Market are still following the old model of selling 3C products and used Apple products.
There has been a recent uptick in the number of cosmetics stores opening up shop in other markets like Mingtong Digital City, Yuanwang Digital Market, and SangDa Electronic Market.
In the future, Huaqiangbei is expected to evolve into a commercial area mainly specialized in electronic products and cosmetics.
Why Has Shenzhen Become the Center of China’s Cross-border Electronic Commerce?
When it comes to international online trade, Shenzhen is where it’s at in China.
Over half of all cross-border E-commerce companies in China are headquartered in Guangdong Province, with 70% of those companies headquartered in Shenzhen, according to a news report.
Prior to 1980, Shenzhen was a “little fishing village” in the southern region of Guangdong Province.
But this tiny fishing town had a huge advantage: it was right next to Hong Kong, which was a British colony at the time.
Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shantou are just a few of the cities in China where the government made the 1980 decision to create special economic zones. Soon after, Shenzhen’s economic and social growth really took off.
Since its founding in 1980, Shenzhen has become one of the world’s most exciting and promising urban centers.
Due to its favorable business climate, Shenzhen has emerged as China’s premier cross-border hub for electronic commerce.
Shenzhen is a city of wonders where entrepreneurs are supported and celebrated, and the city’s residents have earned a reputation for their innovative spirit.
Shenzhen’s government is keen to support the growth of E-commerce across national borders, and current economic policies favor an export-oriented pattern of economic development.
Conclusion
Huaqiangbei is a district in Shenzhen, China, that has been recognized by the government as the country’s preeminent center for the sale of cosmetics and electronic goods.
Likewise, Shenzhen is the nerve center of China’s international e-commerce.
Many products, including the so-called “3C products,” can be found in Huaqiangbei. Huaqiangbei is also home to Asia’s largest market for pre-owned electronic gadgets like iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
To counter the effects of online marketplaces like Taobao, JD Mall, and Pinduoduo, some Huaqiangbei store owners have shifted their focus from selling electronics to selling cosmetics in recent years.
As a result, Huaqiangbei has adopted a new business pattern that is more stable and fruitful.
Shenzhen’s export-oriented economy and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged, and the city’s citizens are well-known for their entrepreneurial spirit, all of which have contributed to Huaqiangbei’s successful transformation.
