Yiwu Draws Creators for Livestream Commerce

Yiwu is attracting international content creators to its wholesale markets for livestream shopping and short-form video production. In July, influencers and international student creators from several countries ran livestream shopping activities across Yiwu International Trade City’s eight major markets. The creators collectively reach more than 40 million followers, while bilingual content from their visits has drawn more than 10 million views. For creators, the model offers access to suppliers and dropshipping without holding inventory, while merchants can sell to overseas buyers through commission-based partnerships.

Creator Campaigns Produce Sales

Creators from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have visited the city’s markets, including TikTok influencers, French niche creators, and Indian cross-border content producers. Their videos have also brought overseas sourcing inquiries to Yiwu merchants.

Indonesian livestream host Rami gained more than 80,000 followers in just over 10 days after starting content from the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center. A jewelry merchant featured in her livestreams reported RMB 20,000 to RMB 30,000 in additional revenue per session. Separately, a Malaysian creator recorded more than RMB 200,000 in sales in one livestream for a silver jewelry store, leading the merchant to seek a longer-term collaboration.

Late Hours Support Overseas Audiences

The Global Digital Trade Center has introduced its “Starlight Livestream” initiative, with nearly 700 merchants extending business hours into the early morning. The schedule is intended to match peak online shopping times in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.

Creators can broadcast from wholesale markets while overseas viewers are online, with merchants fulfilling orders directly through integrated dropshipping services. The arrangement is aimed at people who want to promote products without running a warehouse or carrying stock. More than 87% of surveyed merchants said they were interested in long-term partnerships with international creators.

Chinese Influencers Also Visit Yiwu

More than 300 Chinese influencers independently visited Yiwu’s eight major wholesale markets over the past two months. They toured more than 1,370 source manufacturers and wholesale booths, producing 305 industry-focused videos that generated more than 128 million views and more than 8,000 verified sourcing inquiries.

The content covered more than 20 manufacturing sectors, including AI devices, collectible toys, beauty products, outdoor equipment, imported home furnishings, fashion accessories, and toys.

Trade Network Backs Creator Model

Yiwu’s exports reached RMB 420.7 billion in the first half of 2026, up 17.3% from a year earlier. Its cross-border e-commerce transaction value exceeded RMB 100 billion for the first time in a six-month period, rising 11.25% year on year.

The city’s supply network covers 26 major product categories and more than 2.1 million product lines. Yiwu is also offering free livestreaming venues, multilingual AI editing tools, and cross-border logistics services for creators setting up livestream-based businesses.

A Low Inventory Route to Sales

Yiwu’s approach gives creators a practical way to make localized livestreams and videos from wholesale markets while relying on suppliers and dropshipping services for order fulfillment. Merchants gain another route to overseas customers beyond trade exhibitions, making the city’s creator partnerships a useful option for sellers seeking international exposure.