Do you see the inscription "Made in China"? Almost certainly the product is made in this city
The Chinese city of Yiwu is the world's largest center of small—scale production, almost entirely consisting of factories and markets. 80% of Christmas decorations and 60% of children's toys are made here, it is here that Santa Claus comes for gifts. Photographer Raffaele Petralla photographed the indoor markets of Yiwu and the goods that are produced there every day.
Yiwu is located 350 kilometers west of Shanghai, 1.5 million people live here. Although it is a small city by Chinese standards, it is here that retailers from all over the world buy.
Wholesale store with children's costumes for the holidays. Market Market Trade Center in Yiwu, toy department.
Yiwu makes little things that are then sold all over the world: toothpicks, tennis rackets, birthday cake candles, car air fresheners, dolls, African sculptures… The city consists mainly of indoor markets the size of a stadium. There are thousands of kiosks in each of them, and many sell the same thing.
58-year-old Xu Xiao (Xu Xiao) works in the production of Christmas trees. Zhejiang Province. 2016.
The authorities claim that there are 50 thousand retail outlets in the city, where more than 300 thousand types of goods are sold. Entire stores may specialize exclusively in baby pacifiers, Halloween witches, or purses. A separate market is dedicated to socks alone: the city produces 3 billion pairs a year.
A store with artificial plants at the Market Trade Center, Yiwu.
About 8000 foreign buyers live in Yiwu all the time: they are constantly looking for goods that can be purchased and shipped to their country. There are so many buyers from the Middle East that an Arab quarter has formed in the city. In 2016, a railway line was built connecting Yiwu with Madrid. Its length is about 10 thousand kilometers, which is 741 kilometers longer than the Trans—Siberian railway. The trip takes 21 days.
The area of the city of Yiwu, where the hotels are located.
An exhibition pavilion with toy weapons. Toy department at the Market Trade Center, Yiwu.
Warehouse of plastic toys for the beach in production. Yiwu.
A worker in the production of children's inflatable batons. Iu.
Wholesale store with kites in Market Trade Center, Yiwu. 2016.
19-year-old Wu Tian has been working on the production of Christmas trees for five years. Bai Ma, Zhejiang Province, 2016.
On the horizon — new office premises of the market Trade Market Center, Yiwu.
Wholesale store with balls in the market Market Trade Center, Yiwu.
Housing of workers from the toy factory, Yiwu.
Young worker, Yiwu.
A worker in the production of plush toys, Yiwu.
Department of Christmas toys, Yiwu.
A saleswoman in a wholesale store of hats for Muslim women. Market Market Trade Center, clothing department, Yiwu.
A worker in the production of Santa Claus hats. He Tian, Zhejiang Province. 2016.
A young worker in the textile industry.
Yen Xiao Fin (Uan Xiao Fyn), a 48-year-old owner of the production of Christmas toys, at one of his warehouses. Futang, Zhejiang Province. 2016.