In this guide you will find a complete list of the top 50+ Guangzhou wholesale markets for jewelry, clothing, bags & luggage, fabrics, hotel & restaurant supplies, auto parts, beauty & personal care, jeans, phone parts & accessories, shoes, underwear & lingerie, toys, watches, and glasses & eyewear. This guide will also discuss key issues you need to consider when doing business in the Guangzhou wholesale markets.
Why Should You Buy from Wholesale Markets in Guangzhou?
China has been known as “The World’s Factory” for the past 30 years, while Guangzhou had been the key trading hub in China for 2000 years.
As the go-to city for importers, Guangzhou is a world trading hub, not only because of the well-known Canton Fair but also because of its manufacturing cluster and wholesale markets for a vast array of products.
Whybuy from wholesale markets, rather than trading companies or factories?
Although online B2B marketplaces have made the import business much easier, a large number of professional buyers still believe in the old-fashioned method – going on a buying trip to China.
One of the major benefits of being in the wholesale markets in China is that you can touch and feel the products —buying is literally a hands-on experience.
On the other hand, if you are visiting a factory, you may not be able to inspect a sample of the product. Factories make products by order, and normally they don’t keep all of their products in stock.
What happens if you’re visiting a trading company supplier? Well, it will be better than a factory, since they normally have a sample room in their office. However, the number of samples you can see depends on the trading company’s category coverage.
Hands-on access to a wide variety of samples is why a lot of buyers prefer visiting wholesale markets — it’s like a trade show, but it lasts for 365 days! You can see hundreds of products in one day without wasting time traveling between factories.
Why visit wholesale markets in Guangzhou, over other cities?
Guangzhou is a wholesale city, but whether or not it’s suitable for you depends on the products you’re after. In China, there are many industrial clusters, and each of them has their own strength in producing particular products. Among these industrial clusters, Guangdong is the province with the largest export amount in China. Since Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province, you will have direct access to most of the products from China.
What Products Can You Find in Guangzhou Wholesale Markets?
Jewelry
- Gold and silver jewelry
- Stainless steel jewelry
- Gemstone jewelry
- Bead jewelry
- Jewelry making supplies
- Imitation jewelry
- Fashion jewelry
Clothing
- Women’s clothing
- Men’s clothing
- Children’s clothing
Bags and Luggage
- Handbags
- Backpacks
- Laptop bags
- Luggage
Fabric
- All kinds of fabrics
- Garment accessories
Hotel & Restaurant Supplies
- Hotel towels
- Hotel pillows & bed linens
- Dinnerware
- Kitchen cooking equipment
- Housekeeping Carts
Auto Parts
- Car lights
- Spark plugs
- Air filters
- Brake pads & shoes
- Car accessories
Beauty & Personal Care
- Wigs and hair
- Makeup
- Nail polish
- Cosmetic packages
- Skin care
- Essential oils
- Electronic beauty accessories & machines
- Tattoo supplies
Jeans
Phone parts & accessories
- Phone screens
- Phone batteries
- Phone cases
- Power banks/portable chargers
Shoes
- Women’s shoes
- Men’s shoes
Underwear & Lingerie
Toys
Watches
Glasses & Eyewear
Wedding Dress
Guangzhou Wholesale Market List: Where Are the Wholesale Markets in Guangzhou?
Guangzhou Jewelry Wholesale Markets
Xijiao Building Jewelry Market
Products: fashion jewelry and accessories, stainless steel jewelry, African jewelry
Chinese name: 西郊大厦
Address: No. 2, Zhanqian Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Liwan Plaza
Products: stone bead jewelry, crystal, jade, pearls, jewelry making supplies
Chinese name: 荔湾广场
Address: No. 9, Dexing Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Taikang Jewelry City
Products: jewelry, scarves, hats, hair ornaments, key chains
Chinese name: 泰康饰品城
Address: No.111, Taikang Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Wholesale Clothing Markets
Guangzhou is the undisputed leader of the clothing industry in China; even wholesale markets in other cities are all buying from Guangzhou. If you are in the garment business, no matter which country you are in, Guangzhou is your premier destination for the wholesale clothing market.
Baima Clothing Wholesale Market
Product: high-end women’s clothing
Chinese name: 白马服装市场
Address: No. 16, Zhannan Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Shisanhang Clothing Wholesale Market
Product: middle-end clothing
Chinese name: 十三行
Address: Shisanhang Road, Guangzhou, China
Shahe Clothing Wholesale Market
Product: low-end clothing
Chinese name: 沙河服装批发市场
Address: No.1, Lianquan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
Zhanxi Clothing Wholesale Market
Product: men’s clothing
Chinese name: 站西服装城
Address: No.57, Zhanxi Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Bags Wholesale Market
Guangzhou’s bag industry is as world famous as its clothing business. Twenty-four wholesale markets in Guangzhou focus on bags, all located in the Guihuagang area in Sanyuanli, Guangzhou. Normally, we refer to the “Guihuagang Wholesale Market” or “Sanyuanli Wholesale Market” when speaking of the bags wholesale market area.
Zhonggang Leatherwear Mall
Product: leather bags
Chinese name: 中港皮具城
Address: No.11-21, Sanyuanli Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Baiyun World Leather Trading Center
Product: leather bags
Chinese name: 广州白云世界皮具贸易中心
Address: No.1356-1358, Jiefangbei Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Jinyi Leatherwear Plaza
Products: handbags, backpacks, wallets
Chinese name: 金亿皮具广场
Address: No.1453, Jiefangbei Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Yisen Leather Building
Product: leather bags
Chinese name: 亿森皮具城
Address: No. 1339, Jiefangbei Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Fabric Wholesale Markets
Thanks to achievements in the clothing industry, Guangzhou has developed a complete industrial chain from raw material to finished clothing. The famous “Guangzhou Zhongda Fabric Market” is an area consisting of more than 20 fabric wholesale markets. If you can’t find a fabric you’re looking for in Guangzhou, you probably can’t find it elsewhere.
Guangzhou International Textile City
Products: fabric, lining, garment accessories
Chinese name: 中大国际轻纺城
Address: No. 144, Xingangxi Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China
Ruikang Lace Accessories Market
Product: lace
Chinese name: 瑞康花边世界
Address: Fengyang Street, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
Zhongda Jiuzhou Textile Trade Plaza
Product: print cloth
Chinese name: 中大九洲轻纺广场
Address: No.233, Ruikang Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Hotel & Restaurant Supplies Wholesale Markets
Nantian International Hotel Supplies Wholesale Market
Products: kitchen equipment, tableware, bedding supplies, cleaning supplies, hardware
Chinese name: 南天国际酒店用品批发市场
Address: Northwest of Luoxi Bridge Corner, South Guangzhou Avenue, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
Shaxi International Hotel Supplies Wholesale Market
The world’s largest and most professional hotel supplies wholesale market and equipment distribution center.
Products: kitchen equipment, food machinery, glassware, hardware appliances, bedding
Chinese name: 沙溪国际酒店用品城
Address: No.11, Shaxi Avenue, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Auto Parts Wholesale Markets
Guangdong Yongfu International Automotive Supplies Center
Product: Auto supplies
Chinese name: 广东永福国际汽车用品城
Address: No. 48, Yongfu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Zhiyou Auto Parts Center
Products: Auto parts
Chinese name: 广州致友汽配城
Address: No. 1540, Guangyuan East Road, Guangzhou, China
New Guangcong Auto Parts Trade Market
Product: large car auto parts
Chinese name: 新广从汽配交易市场
Address: No.113, Baiyun Avenue North, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Cosmetics Wholesale Market
Guangzhou Beauty Exchange Center
Products: Wigs and hair, makeup, cosmetic packages, electronic beauty accessories & machines
Chinese name: 广州美博城
Address: No.121, Guangyuan West Road, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Xingfa Plaza
Product: cosmetics
Chinese name: 广州兴发广场
Address: No.138, Xingfa North Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Yifa Plaza
Product: cosmetic products
Chinese name: 广州怡发广场
Address: No.96-98, Jichang Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Jeans Wholesale Markets
Xintang International Jeans Mall
Product: jeans
Chinese name: 新塘国际牛仔城
Address: Xintang, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Electronic and Phone Parts Accessories Wholesale Markets
New Asia International City of Electronic Science & Technology
Product: phone accessories
Chinese name: 新亚洲国际电子科技城
Address: No. 55, Xidierma Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Nanfang Building
Product: phone parts
Chinese name: 南方大厦
Address: No. 49, Yanjiangxi Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Shoes Wholesale Market
Buyuntiandi Shoes World
Product: shoes
Chinese name: 步云天地鞋城
Address: No. 28, Zhanxi Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Guangda Foreign Trade Shoes Plaza
Product: Shoes
Chinese name: 广大外贸鞋城
Address: Fenggang, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Underwear Wholesale Market
Guangzhou Jinxiang Underwear City
Products: underwear, lingerie, pajamas
Chinese name: 金祥大厦
Address: No.193, Zhanqian Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Toy Wholesale Markets
Onelink Plaza
Products: toys, gifts, home decor
Chinese name: 万菱广场
Address: No. 39, Jiefangnan Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Zhonggang Toys Wholesale Market
Product: toys
Chinese name: 中港玩具精品城
Address: No.399, Yidexi Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Watch Wholesale Markets
Zhanxi Watch and Clock Town
Products: watches and clocks
Chinese name: 站西钟表城
Address: No. 65, Zhanxi Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Eyewear (Glasses) Wholesale Market
Guangzhou Glasses City
Product: eyeglasses
Chinese name: 广州眼镜城
Address: No. 260, Renminzhong Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Wedding Wholesale Market
Product: Wedding dress, wedding accessories
Chinese name: 江南大道北
Address: Jiangnan North Avenue
What are the problems when buying from wholesale markets?
Buying from a wholesale market in China is not as easy as buying from a local shop in your own country. Once you have investigated which wholesale markets you should explore, the journey has only just begun.
I’m going to cover the biggest challenges of buying from wholesale markets, so you can decide if buying wholesale is a good fit for you. We’ll also discuss what to do if you encounter a problem. Let’s take a look!
Just because suppliers have a booth in wholesale markets doesn’t mean they are reliable
Wholesale markets are a place for suppliers to show their products and meet customers. Please realize that even though you’ve met the suppliers face to face, you don’t know whether or not they are reliable.
In my personal experience in sourcing from wholesale markets in Guangzhou, it’s all too common to see new stores open and then close not long after. As you might imagine, if they took your deposit, and then their store disappeared, you probably have little recourse.
One of the best practices is to find out how long the suppliers have been in business, and whether they are professional in their dealings, rather than just getting the best price on the product.
Moreover, keep the deposit at no more than 30% of the total value, and always inspect the product quality before you pay the balance.
Suppliers in the wholesale markets don’t speak English
China has experienced exponential growth in recent decades, but the English language level of Chinese people is still not what one would hope.
According to Wikipedia, less than 1% of the Chinese speak English. That means, if you get lost in China, you probably have to ask 100 people in the street before you meet the right person.
That said, what is it like to go to a wholesale market in China if you don’t speak any Chinese?
If you are buying for your own personal use, it’s fine if you don’t speak any Chinese. At the end of the day, you see the product, you like it, you get the price and pay, and that’s it.
But if you’re buying for your business, that’s a different story. Before you place the order, you need to know details about
- MOQ,
- production lead time,
- what the materials are,
- whether you can customize and much more.
If you don’t speak any Chinese, you just can’t do anything.
As a result, foreign buyers normally will hire either an interpreter or a sourcing agent to help when they are in the wholesale markets. You can decide which kind of help best suits your needs.
- Interpreters or translators usually charge by the day, with a daily fee ranging from 70 – 150 USD, to translate for you in the wholesale markets. An interpreter is suitable for you if you have experience importing from China and know what to ask a supplier — when language is the only problem for you.
- A sourcing agent or export agent usually charges by a percentage of your order value, ranging from 3 – 10%. Besides translating, they will handle the whole process of importing from China for buyers.
Suppliers in the wholesale markets don’t accept USD, only RMB.
Payment can be a hassle when buying from the wholesale markets in China. Even nowadays, neither USD cash nor international credit cards will be accepted by vendors.
Do not exchange money with a broker that you don’t know very well. I had one client who was ripped off when exchanging RMB in his home country – it turned out he got all counterfeit money.
The best practice is to withdraw enough money for your personal use from the bank in your country, to cover your hotel, transportation and daily expenses (1000 USD will be enough), and then exchange the rest for buying products when you arrive in China.
If you are working with a trading company or agent they can also help with money exchange.
Suppliers in the wholesale markets only ship within China, not overseas.
Price quotes from wholesale markets in China are all based on EXW (ex-works), which means they deliver the products to their store or to a warehouse nearby and that’s it. You have to handle the shipping from that point to your home country, and the costs include shipment booking, container loading, shipping document preparing, and customs declaration, etc.
When the shipment arrives in your country, you also need to complete customs clearance to finish the importing process; if the container stays at the destination port more than 5 days, there will be daily demurrage charge, which will lead to extra costs.
Products from the wholesale markets may not be suitable for your country
Wholesale markets in China are not all targeting foreign buyers, so the products may not suitable for your country for several reasons.
- Specifications: If an Indian buyer, for instance, is looking for an electrical product with a 3-round-pin plug, he may need to have his order custom made since the Chinese standard is normally a 3-flat-pin plug.
- Package & Product Manuals: Usually the packaging and manual of wholesale market products are in Chinese or in strange English. However, you can custom order your own packaging with your logo if the order quantity meets the MOQ.
- Certificate Regulation: Some countries require a product certificate before the item can be sold in their country. For example, with an electrical product, you will need CE & ROHS, which most of the wholesalers don’t have.
Make sure you understand what standards and certificates are needed before you invest in any product, and talk to experts who have experience exporting those products to your country.
As you can see, Guangzhou is the wholesale paradise you must visit if you’re dealing with the products listed above.
But before you get started on your wholesale trip, I’d like to hear from you.
What did you think of today’s post?
Or maybe you have a question about something you read?
Let me know by leaving a comment below.