Yiwu is located 100 km south of the city of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province. Yiwu is a mid-sized city in Zhejiang province, with a population of about 700,000. The city was originally founded around 222 BC, during the Qin Dynasty. Though it is not a big town by Chinese standards, it is disproportionately influential and powerful in China in terms of comprehensive economic strength, due to its status as one of the largest commodity centers in the country. A poster city for China's market economy, Yiwu produces a huge variety of cheap, good quality products that end up all over China and the world. There are always a lot of foreigners in Yiwu, usually visiting, or on short-term stays, doing business with the multitudes of manufacturers and wholesale markets. It has facilities that cater to the expat market, like an international school, which is unusual for smaller centers in China.
Shopping in Yiwu is interesting. Just about any commodity you could possibly ever want to buy is available here, at one market or another, with massive discounts available if you buy in bulk. There are a number of local products from the region as well, including sweet dates and organic mountain teas. Odds are that if you are posted to Yiwu, it will be for some kind of business related to commodity trading, so you will get to know at least some of the markets well, and learn how to bargain – an essential skill here.
Yiwu cuisine is good, as there is a huge variety of food from around China and the world, as a result of all the visitors to the city. The local cuisine takes