Map: The world’s longest train journey now begins in China

On Nov. 18, an 82-container freight train left the eastern Chinese industrial city of Yiwu. It was embarking on a landmark journey that is supposed to end 21 days later, in December, in Madrid. The distance the train covers — more than 6,200 miles — marks the longest route taken by a freight train, longer still than Russia’s famed Trans-Siberian Railway, as the map above shows.

Yiwu is the largest wholesale center for small consumer goods in China, making it home to a curious mix of foreign businessmen and petty traders, including a large community of Arabs. Now it’s plugged into a far larger project: China’s zeal to deepen the links between its booming economy and markets in Europe.

The Yiwu-Madrid line is one of a series of routes unveiled following Beijing’s new effort to revitalize intercontinental land trade. Dubbing the project the “New Silk Road,” the government of Chinese President Xi Jinping has allocated an initial $40 billion  to invest in better infrastructure and freight logistics for the trains.

While container-borne trade still moves mostly by sea, the growing appetite of the Chinese market for European luxury goods means that Eurasian railway freight is catching up, says the Economist. China also wants to muscle into a transportation sector still dominated by European companies, reports Reuters.

China is already at the heart of global trade, but a sense of historic primacy is driving the project. The route of the Yiwu-Madrid train cuts through China’s far-western region of Xinjiang and then the vast Central Asian state of Kazakhstan; centuries ago, caravans bearing Chinese goods trudged through its steppe lands and taiga.

Another proposed freight route would enter Europe through Turkey. A map published this year by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua depicted the new Silk Road on land as well at sea. China’s maritime trade ambitions have seen its state companies plow billions into port-building projects across the Indian Ocean rim, from Bangladesh to the Hambantota project in Sri Lanka to facilities in Kenya.

China’s considerable global footprint, particularly in Africa, has led to an expanding navy and more established presence in the waters off East Africa.

Meanwhile, Xi’s new Silk Road project, some experts say, has a geopolitical edge with its intent to better knit together logistics and markets in Europe and Asia. It’s “a push against the U.S. rebalance to Asia,” writes Min Ye, an assistant professor of international relations at Boston University.

“Ishaan Tharoor writes about foreign affairs for The Washington Post. He previously was a senior editor at TIME, based first in Hong Kong and later in New York.”

Futian marketFutian market

Yiwu, is famous in the world for its biggest small commodity markets and tremendous goods.

 

The market was founded in 1982.
Within the passed 30 years, the market have been moved and extend constructed for 11 times.
Within the passed 30 years, the market bigger and bigger, more advanced and modern.
Now the market business area is cover 4,000,000 square meters.

 

Before 1998,almost all the goods were sold to all over the China. after 1998,Yiwu market begin to be famous in the world, more and more 
foreign businessmen come to Yiwu for purchasing,over 13,000 foreign businessmen from more than 100 countries and regions live in Yiwu 
for a long time for purchasing. Every day,more than 1500 containers are loading in Yiwu.

 

Currently, Yiwu city, has been a small commodity city indeed, not only in the market,but also in the street…

 

Yiwu Market, also namely China Commodity Market,It is made up of two market groups, namely Yiwu International Trade Market (Futian market) and Huangyuan Market.

Yiwu International Trade Market

With 1700,000 kinds of commodities in over 4,202 categories of 16 industries.
Total 70,000 shops.
The products are exported to over 215 countries and regions
Everything you can find in Yiwu market: 
House-ware, Decoration & Crafts, Jewelry, Toys, Flowers, Stationery, Cosmetics, Hardware, Textile, Knitting raw materials,Electric & 
Electronic, Socks, Garments & Accessories, Leather Goods, Bags & Box, Shoes, Sports, Bedding, Auto accessories, Car and motorcycle 
parts, African products,etc.
Besides the China Commodity Market, there are lignum market, Construction & upholster market, Machine and equipment market, 
Food market, an so on.

 

The Feature of Yiwu Market:

 

• The market ( total 70,000 shops) is opened every day, except Chinese New Year, when it will close for 8 days. 
 The opening time is 8 am and the closing time is 5 pm.
• Small quantity is accepted, you can mix lots of items (from different suppliers) in one container.

 

• All the prices in the market is the factory price.
• Most of the products are in stock, can deliver within 2 weeks.

Districts and markets in Yiwu

International Trade Mart District 1

International Trade Mart District 1

Founded in October, 2001, Yiwu International Trade Mart District 1 is officially put into operation on 22 October, 2002, which occupies an area of 340,000 square meters with a total investment of 700 million yuan.

 

1st floor: Artificial Flower, Toy, Flower Accessories.

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2nd floor: Hair Ornament, Jewelry & Ornament.

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3rd floor: Ornament Accessories, Frame.
Ceramic & Crystal, Tourism Craft.
Festival Craft, Decorative Craft.

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4th floor:Taiwan Mall(Flower, Ornaments, Craft).
Factory Outlets(Toy, Flower, Ornaments/Accessories).

International Trade Mart District 2

International Trade Mart District 2

Opened on 22 October, 2004, International Trade Mart District 2 occupies market area of over 600,000㎡, and boasts above 8,000 booths and gathers over 10,000 business operators.

 

1st floor: Rain Wear & Pack, Suitcase & Bag, Umbrella.

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2nd floor: Electrical Products, Hardware Tools & Accessories, Lock,Vehicle.

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3rd floor: Kitchen & Sanitary Hardware, Small Home Appliance,
Telecommunications, Electronic Appliances & Photographic Equipment,
Battery & Lamp & Flash Light(Electronics),Clock & Watch.

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4th floor: Hardware & Electronics.

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5th floor: Export Agencies, Featured Products.

International Trade Mart District 3

International Trade Mart District 3

boasts 460,000 m2 building area, over 6000 standard booths of 14 m2 for each on floor 1 to 3, more than 600 booths of 80-100 m2 on floor 4 and 5 and manufacturer outlet center located on the fourth floor.

 

-1st floor:Leather, Accessories.

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1st floor:Pen & Ink & Paper, Eyeglasses.

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2nd floor:Leisure & Entertainment Products, Sports Goods,
Office & Study Stationery.

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3rd floor:Mirror & Comb, Button & Zipper, Cosmetic Accessories,
Beauty Products, Cosmetics, Apparel Accessories, Accessories.

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5th floor:Photo frame.

International Trade Mart District 4

International Trade Mart District 4

Officially put into operation on 21st October, 2008 Yiwu International Trade Mart District 4 occupies 1,080,000 m2 building area and holds above 16,000 booths.

It is the sixth generation of Yiwu markets in its development history.

 

1st floor: Socks.

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2nd floor: Knitted Goods, Hat & Cap, Gloves, Daily Necessities.

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3rd floor: Caddice, Towel, Thread & Tape, Shoes, Lace, Tie.

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4th floor: Belt, Bra & Underwear, Scarf.

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5th floor: Shoes, Daily Necessities, Garments,
Tourism and Shopping Center, Frame·Accessories.

International Trade Mart District 5

International Trade Mart District 5

International Trade Mart District 5 is the core project for Yiwu municipal Party committee and Yiwu government to thoroughly implement the scientific concept of development, and comprehensively push forward the construction of Yiwu as a national trade city.

 

1st floor: African Products Exhibition & Trade Center,
ICM-Garments·Daily Consumable,
ICM-Ornaments·Crafts, ICM-Foods·Healthy Products
Other Imported Goods.

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2nd floor: Bedding.

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3rd floor:Curtain Cloth, Knitted Cloth, Knitted Fabric.

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4th floor: Car & Motorcycle Accessories, Car Necessities.

Huangyuan Market ( Garment Market)

Huangyuan Market ( Garment Market)

Yiwu Huangyuan Garments Market is located in the most bustling area in Yiwu city. Covering a total area of 117 mu and construction area of 420,000 square meters.

 

1st floor: Trousers, Jeans.
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2nd floor: Men’s Wear.

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3rd floor: Women’s Wear.
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4th floor: Pajamas, Sweater, Sports Wear, Shirts and Others.

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5th floor: Children’s Wear.

The 19th China Yiwu International Commodities Fair Yiwu Fair 2013

The 19th China Yiwu International Commodities Fair (Yiwu Fair 2013), taken by Yiwu China Commodities City Exhibition Co., Ltd ( CCC Exhibition), will take place at Yiwu International Expo Center during Oct.21-25, 2013.

 

China Yiwu International Commodities Fair (Yiwu Fair), as a highly internationalized and informative business event with excellent services and security, has become one of the largest, most influential and most productive commodities trade fair in China.

 

Yiwu Fair has become the third largest exhibition sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, ranking only next to the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou and the East China Fair inShanghai.

 

Yiwu Fair was honored as China’s Best Managed Exhibition in 2005, one of the 2006 Top Ten Exhibitions in China, China’s Best outcome Exhibition in 2006, and the 2007 Top Quality Exhibition in Yangtze River Delta in China.

Yiwu Fair 2013, the top3 tradeshow in China, the largest fair on Daily Consumer Goods (General Merchandise, Small Commodities, Articles of Daily Use, Daily Household Necessities, Small Household Articles, Various Household Supplies, Groceries, Consumer Products ) will be held in October 2013.

 

Yiwu Fair 2013 alias China Yiwu International Commodities Fair 2013.

 

Date: 21-25 October, 2013

 

Venue: Yiwu Meihu Exhibition Center.

 

Exhibits of Yiwu Fair 2013:
Stationery & Office Supplies, Sports Goods, Toys, Knitting Accessories, Garment, Footwear & Headwear, Arts & Crafts, Gifts, Decorations, Home Appliances, Cosmetics & Beauty-care Products, Cases & Bags, Hardware & Machinery, Electronic & Electrical Appliances, Trade Services etc.

 

Brief Introduction of Yiwu Fair 2013:
Yiwu Fair is the largest daily commodities fair on scale. During the Yiwu Fair, activities such as International Market Seminar and purchase-matching Meeting for Multinational Retailing Groups will be held to provide more valuable information and abundant business opportunities to the visitors. The Yiwu Fair is attended by around 120,000 visitors. An estimated 3,500 companies will be exhibiting 2013 Yiwu Fair, occupying over 5,000 booths in a floor space of 90,000sqm. Yiwu Fair has been held for 15 successive years since 1995. It is held in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province in October every year. In 2002, it was upgraded as an international commodities fair. Since then, the event has been jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government and other relevant authorities. The Yiwu Fair, as a highly internationalized and informative event with excellent services and security, has become one of the largest, most influential and most productive commodities fairs in China. It has become the third largest exhibition sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, ranking only next to the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou(Canton Fair) and the East China Fair in Shanghai. Yiwu Fair was honored as China’s Best Managed Exhibition in 2005, one of the 2006 Top Ten Exhibitions in China, China’s Best-outcome Exhibition in 2006, and the 2007 Top Quality Exhibition in Yangtze River Delta in China. Yiwu Fair was firstly held in 1995 and 2013 Yiwu Fair will be the 17th session in its history. It was upgraded as an international commodities fair in 2002. Since then, the event has been jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government and other relevant authorities.

 

Facts of Yiwu Fair 2010:

 

Exhibition Area: 100,000 square meters Exhibition Booths of International Standard: 4,500 Exhibitors: More than 2,500 Professional Traders: 120,000 Overseas Traders: 19,000 Overseas Trading Groups: 80

 

Organizers of Yiwu Fair 2013:
Ministry of commerce of the People’s Republic of China People’s Government of Zhejiang Province China Council for the Promotion of International Trade China National Light Industrial Council China General Chamber of Commerce
Co-organizers of Yiwu Fair 2013:
State Administration for Industry and Commerce All China Federation of Industry and Commerce Hong Kong Trade Development Council Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

 

Sponsors of Yiwu Fair 2013:
Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Zhejiang Province People’s Government of Yiwu City.