Should I Shoe My Horse That Has Thrush?

Yiwu, day 10, 6 July 2010

After a restful night, we were able to celebrate all stay in a hotel, we met item 8 for clock Input talk in the lounge of the hotel. For once, all listeners were well-fed and more attentive than it once was, but this perhaps it was that Dani was able to give us first hand information about the program available to us. In the paper we learned that the residents have a strong dealer Yiwus gene and how the international market in Yiwu developed since 1982. Yiwu not went through the "traditional" development path of other cities in terms of a tertiarisation. The town developed mainly a strong second Sector which include the development of the international market related.

happened The transfer to the market via public transport, where we as Europeans of Chinese who speak English is often discussed and questioned is where you come from, what you do and what you think about China. Just arrived in the market, we plunged into the action and quickly realized that we were not with the purchase of individual products were far away. The market is geared to traders from all over the world who buy larger quantities and directly by container in the Arab world, Europe, Africa or wherever the ship. The advantage of Yiwu is among other things in the flexible and efficient organization of these export routes and the favorable location for the production of mainly low-cost goods.

Photo: Santa Claus Let's see if these hedgehogs toys can be found soon in the Bernese retail

It proved to be a good tactic with the excursion booklet under: as a commodity

Photo asking arm in the various stores for the price of 1000 and out so the actual value of the products. The best offer for 1000 footballs we found was 4.8 yuan per piece, but the balls were of extremely low quality. Some of us covered with a watch, toy helicopters and other unnecessary things.

After lunch in the Uighur restaurant, where all the Arab traders also dined, we made our way to visit a small workshop. In the small production facility worked about 6-8 young workers who earn 1000-1200 RMB for their work. They manufacture fashion jewelry (eg chains) for the world market. The jewelry that comes with production and material costs of about 12 yuan (£ ~ 2.) Worth was sold to us for € 9.95 and boxed, ready for download here in Yiwu.

photo: fashion jewelry for the European market

Photos: winning hand in a jewelry workshop

As mainly the big companies in the region, in this last time we visited later a larger factory. The socks and underwear company "Lang Sha" is a market leader in the Chinese market and also produces for brands such as Puma and Adidas. Overall, the company employs 6,000 people and operates four different factories. In the factory floor are about 3,000 machines, which are, interestingly, made in Brescia, Italy and China had to be imported.

Photo: Stockings production in long-Sha

After this interesting insight into this factory we bought some socks and XL pants, for the Chinese market were designed and adopted in accordance with our standard a group photo in front of the factory site.

I think that many of us these images and impressions will lead to constantly remind them when the next time in a market in Cuzco (Peru), Valencia (Spain), Dar es salaam be (Tanzania) or shop anywhere else. Another lasting impression left to me to win the Uighur Muslims, who are responsive to raise money for the construction of mosques.

Photo: Night market in Yiwu

Benjamin Schilling

(Photos: Heike Mayer)