At 9 o’clock on February 20, Yiwu International Trade City Zones 1 to 5 (including the Import Commodities City on the first floor), International Production Materials Market, Huangyuan Garment Market, The Digital City, and the Binwang 158 Cultural and Creative Park all opened. Business owners and buyers showed their health codes and got their temperatures taken by turns to enter.

As the world’s largest small commodities distribution center, Yiwu’s every move affects the global small commodities trade situation, and it also directly affects the upper, middle, and lower chain of companies’ resumption of work and production. This year, the market opened three days earlier than in previous years, under the strict requirements for prevention and control of the pandemic. This is to help e-commerce, logistics, and other industries achieve efficient and orderly recovery.

“80% of our employees responded to the policy to stay in Yiwu for Spring Festival, and 60% of the production lines have not been shut down. Now we are waiting for the market to open so that customers can hit “order,” He Mei, who is engaged in the toy business in the first district of the International Trade City, told reporters. She arrived at the market just after 8 o’clock today, waiting for it to open.

He Mei said that this year is her zodiac animal year, so she wore a red coat. “I hope this year’s business will be booming.” As she said this, she grinned, and even her mask could not hide her bright smile.

Many business owners said that this year’s Spring Festival is very special. Yiwu has maintained sufficient production capacity, efficient logistics, and accurate service. The opening of the market is a catalyst that helps companies to start the year well.

According to statistics, there are 41,978 non-Yiwu employees in Yiwu’s market, 26,644 of whom stayed in Yiwu during the Spring Festival, accounting for 63.47%.

About 500,000 foreign workers and entrepreneurs chose to spend the Spring Festival in Yiwu this year. The Yiwu government launched 17 heartwarming measures to accommodate them. Both Yiwu China Import Commodities City Incubation Area and Binwang Yiwu Aiximao Flagship Store chose to open on February 14 (the third day of the first lunar month) to welcome guests. All these actions contributed to the festive atmosphere in Yiwu. (Translated by Jiang Yifan, edited by Kendra Fiddler)