Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center Opens, Establishing New Digital Commerce Standard
The opening of Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center marks China's transition from traditional trade to a comprehensive digital-commerce ecosystem, positioning the city as a global hub for modern, low-carbon business operations.
The Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center, the flagship project of the city's sixth-generation market, officially opened on October 14, completing the market's latest upgrade and signaling Yiwu's strategic shift from traditional trade to a full-scale digital-commerce ecosystem. This transformation positions the city as a global hub that is fashionable, international, modern, digital, and low-carbon, setting new benchmarks for worldwide digital commerce operations.
Located in the middle of Zhejiang Province approximately 300 kilometers from Shanghai, Yiwu has long been recognized as a commercial and trade city with vibrant market activity and unlimited business opportunities. The city has released China's first Market Credit Index and has been reputed by authoritative organizations as the world's largest small-commodity wholesale market. With the arrival of the digital trade era, Yiwu now stands at the forefront of market iterative upgrades through this new facility.
Covering 1.25 million square meters, the center integrates five distinct zones: market, office buildings, commercial district, apartments, and the Digital Trade Hub. The market already hosts vendors specializing in fashion jewelry, creative and trendy toys, and smart equipment, with more than half being second-generation merchants, next-generation start-ups, or brand and IP owners. This diverse tenant mix reflects the evolving nature of global trade and the center's commitment to innovation.
The digital transformation is particularly evident in the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. Over 3,700 new stall-holders use and sell AI tools, while buyers can navigate the center via AI to locate products, shops, and contacts more efficiently. Zhou Jian, General Manager of Yiwu China Commodities City Big Data Co., Ltd., highlighted how tenants are mass-producing promotional videos using the in-house Xiaoshang AI Video Creator. What previously took a week and cost upwards of RMB 1,000 (approximately $140) now takes minutes, as vendors simply speak to the camera, add text, and receive multilingual versions almost instantly.
The impact on business operations is substantial. Cao Fanyue, owner of Muqi Jewelry, explained that silver-jewelry development used to be capital-heavy, but Xiaoshang AI now turns ideas into designs instantly, making the process both fast and inspiring. Her company's monthly output now exceeds 200 new SKUs, demonstrating the productivity gains possible through digital transformation.
The center's infrastructure includes one high-level Digital Trade Hub and three core platforms: Chinagoods for digital trading services, a digital supply-chain platform for efficient logistics, and Yiwu Pay for settlement. These systems jointly undergird end-to-end digital commerce, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that supports businesses throughout their operational lifecycle. The facility also rolls out multiple digital-empowerment scenarios while supporting the rapid expansion of AI large models, digital trade, and cross-border e-commerce, establishing Yiwu as a model for future global trade centers.