When does Yiwu market close for Chinese New Year, and how should you plan orders?
Short answer: Yiwu International Trade City opens every day, roughly 9:00 to 17:00, and stays open through most public holidays, including October’s Golden Week. The one long break is Chinese New Year: in 2026 the main districts closed on the afternoon of 13 February and reopened on 28 February. Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 February, so confirm custom goods by early-to-mid December 2026 and ready-stock goods by early January 2027 if you want them shipped before the break.
- Normal hoursEvery day, roughly 9:00–17:00
- 2026 closure (main districts)13 Feb (afternoon) – 28 Feb
- Chinese New Year 2027Saturday 6 February 2027
- Custom goods before the breakConfirm by early-to-mid Dec 2026
Normal opening hours
The market opens seven days a week, including weekends. Most booths are open from around 8:30–9:00 in the morning until about 17:00, but hours differ between districts and many booth owners start packing up in the late afternoon. If you plan to walk many booths in one day, start in the morning. Our guide to Yiwu market districts shows which district sells what, so you can plan a route.
Short public holidays usually do not close the market. During the National Day “Golden Week” (1–7 October) the market stays open and is one of its busiest weeks for visitors. What slows down on holidays is often everything around the booths: some factories pause, couriers run slower and offices answer later. Allow a few extra days if your order runs across a holiday.
How the Chinese New Year closure works
The market operator publishes an official schedule a few weeks before each Chinese New Year. Different markets can close and reopen on different days, but the main districts of Yiwu International Trade City have followed a similar pattern in recent years:
| Year | Chinese New Year’s Day | Main districts closed | Main districts reopened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 January 2025 | Before the holiday | 9 February 2025 (12th day of the first lunar month) |
| 2026 | 17 February 2026 | 13 February 2026, afternoon (26th day of the last lunar month) | 28 February 2026 (12th day of the first lunar month) |
| 2027 | 6 February 2027 | Estimate: first days of February 2027 | Estimate: around 17 February 2027, if the same pattern holds |
In 2026 a few smaller markets ran on a different timetable. For example, the imported goods market in District 5 reopened earlier, on 19 February, while the main districts and the Huangyuan clothing market reopened on 28 February. The 2027 dates above are our estimate from the last two years. Check the official notice when it comes out before you book a trip.
Official dates are only part of the picture. Many booth owners leave a few days before the official closing day, and some come back a few days after reopening. In practice, plan for about three weeks in which buying, quality checks and shipping from Yiwu are slow or stopped.
Factories and freight slow down for longer
Most Yiwu booths are showrooms for factories elsewhere in Zhejiang and other provinces. Those factories often lose workers earlier than the market closes, because many staff travel home for the holiday. After the break, some factories need extra time to bring workers back, so production may run below full speed in the first weeks.
Freight is busy too. Many importers try to ship before the holiday, so container space and air cargo get tight, and rates can rise in the weeks before. Domestic couriers in China also slow down around the holiday, which affects samples and goods moving from factories to the consolidation warehouse. Read our shipping guide for typical transit times by express, air, sea and rail.
Planning timeline for Chinese New Year 2027
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| October–November 2026 | Choose products, ask for quotes and order samples. Agree packaging and labels. |
| Early-to-mid December 2026 | Confirm custom goods (logo, colours, printed boxes) and pay deposits. Custom goods often take 15–30 days, plus time for packaging. |
| Early January 2027 | Last good window for ready-stock orders. Book freight with your forwarder. |
| Mid-to-late January 2027 | Final quality checks, packing and loading. Aim for goods to leave Yiwu before booths and factories stop. |
| Around early–mid February 2027 (estimate) | Market closed. Use the time to plan your next order. |
| Late February–March 2027 | Booths reopen. Expect slower replies and longer lead times for the first weeks. |
If your goods arrive close to the deadline, a small trial order of ready-stock items is often easier to get out before the holiday than a large custom run.
Visiting Yiwu around the holidays
If you want to walk the market in person, avoid the two weeks either side of Chinese New Year: many booths are empty and factories cannot confirm new orders. October and November are a good time to visit, because the market is fully open and there is still time to ship before the holiday. If you are also thinking about a trade fair, see Canton Fair or Yiwu market.
How an agent helps before the holiday
A local sourcing agent can check which suppliers can still deliver on time, follow up on production in January, run quality checks before booths close and book space with forwarders early. Yiwu Buddy’s service fee is a flat 10% on goods value only, with a US$50 minimum per sourcing order. Samples and international freight are billed at cost. We do not handle fake brands or copies of famous logos.
Frequently asked questions
When does Yiwu market close for Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 February. The official 2027 schedule is published by the market operator closer to the holiday. In 2025 and 2026 the main districts reopened on the 12th day of the first lunar month, and in 2026 they closed on the afternoon of the 26th day of the last lunar month. If 2027 follows the same pattern, expect the main market to close in the first days of February 2027 and reopen around 17 February 2027. Treat these as estimates until the official notice is out.
Is Yiwu market open on weekends?
Yes. Yiwu International Trade City opens every day of the week, roughly from morning to late afternoon (around 9:00 to 17:00). Exact hours vary by district, and many booths start packing up before closing time, so arrive in the morning if you want to visit many booths.
Is Yiwu market open during China’s October Golden Week?
Yes. The market stays open during the National Day holiday (1–7 October) and it is one of the busiest weeks for visitors. Factories, couriers and some offices may still slow down or take days off, so production and shipping can take a little longer that week.
When should I place orders before Chinese New Year?
For Chinese New Year 2027 (6 February), confirm custom or printed goods by early-to-mid December 2026 and ready-stock goods by early January 2027. That leaves time for production, quality checks and booking freight before booths, factories and couriers stop for the holiday.
Can I visit Yiwu market right after Chinese New Year?
You can visit once the official reopening day has passed, but the first week is often quiet. Some booths reopen later than the official date and many factories need extra time to bring workers back. Visiting from about late February or March gives you a fuller market.
Does shipping get more expensive before Chinese New Year?
Often yes. Many importers try to ship before the holiday, so freight space gets tight and rates can rise in the weeks before. Ask your forwarder for a quote early, and get product quotes in writing with a validity date.