Wenzhou · 温州
Wenzhou is China's capital of footwear and leather, and one of the cradles of Chinese private entrepreneurship: much of the Chinese diaspora in Spain has roots here. A coastal city with spectacular mountains nearby.
City map
Wholesale markets in Wenzhou
📍 No. 79 Shoudu Road, Lucheng District
The big centre since 2015: 160,000 m² and some 1,200 exhibitors, arranged 'one street, one type of shoe'. The starting point to get your bearings in China's footwear capital.
📍 No. 152 Renmin West Road, Lucheng
The veteran (1995); opposite, at No. 145, the fashion centre carries each season's latest at slightly higher prices.
📍 Districts and townships of Wenzhou
Over 3,000 manufacturers putting around a billion pairs a year on the market, with the full auxiliary chain: lasts, soles, leathers and machinery.
📍 Lucheng District
The city's other big cluster for frame and eyewear importers.
📍 Wenzhou is a city of factories more than wholesalers: use the centres to get oriented and locate manufacturers, then close the order at the factory. Avoid Chinese New Year and October's Golden Week.
What to see
Jiangxin Island (江心屿)
River island with twin pagodas, a symbol of the city
Yandang Mountains (雁荡山)
UNESCO Global Geopark, an hour from the city
Wuma Street
Historic pedestrian street with traditional Wenzhou architecture
Wenzhou Museum
A look at the city's commercial and emigration history
Nanxi River Scenic Area
River and mountains on the outskirts, a popular weekend getaway
Getting around
Wenzhou has high-speed rail and its own airport with connections to major Chinese cities. To get around the city and reach the fair venue, DiDi is the most practical option.
In mainland China, Google, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram aren't accessible without a VPN arranged before you travel (it can't be installed once you've arrived). Hong Kong doesn't have this restriction.
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Frequently asked questions about Wenzhou
When is the best time to visit Wenzhou?
April-May and September-October; August (fair dates) is hot and humid.
Do I need a visa to visit Wenzhou?
Always check the current visa policy for your nationality before traveling: China has expanded short-stay visa exemptions to several European nationalities in recent years, but the conditions change frequently. For longer stays or multiple entries, consider arranging a business (M) visa in advance.
Keep exploring
Wenzhou is part of the Zhejiang cluster
Small commodities and costume jewelry (Yiwu is the largest wholesale market in the world), textiles and hardware components.
See the full cluster →Terms you'll need when negotiating in Wenzhou
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