The Number of Yiwu Foreign Residents Ranks The First in Zhejiang Province

Yiwu is the global largest small commodity circulation center and exhibition center although it is still a a county-level city on administrative ranking. Walking in the streets in Yiwu, you can see foreigners everywhere. At present, Yiwu has surpassed Hangzhou and Ningbo (two sub-provincial cities) not only in the relative number of foreigner residents but also in the absolute number and ranks the first in Zhejiang.

More than ten years ago, if a Yiwu native came across a foreigner in the street, he/she would be probably very surprised and would look back for several more times. However, the export-oriented economy of Yiwu small commodity has attracted more and more foreigners to come to this wonderful small city.

According to the statistics of Yiwu foreign trade and economy sector and industrial and commercial department, now Yiwu has more than 11,000 foreign residents, including 2124 permanent overseas representative offices from 85 countries and regions.

As foreigners gather, there appeared an “exotic street” and a “United Nations community” in the city. With many years of business and life experience, many foreigners can already speak Chinese or even Yiwu local dialect. They have deeply integrated into this city, some have been living in Yiwu with the whole family for more than ten years .