Jia Wang

“My hometown, Yiwu,

is known to the world as a fast-paced hub of international trade,

a vital source of “Made in China,”

a massive factory that runs 24/7,

constantly producing and exporting goods around the globe.

Dubbed “the World’s Supermarket,”

Yiwu embodies the rhythm and scale of global consumerism.

But to me,

Yiwu is more than a center of manufacturing.

It is a city with over a thousand years of history,

where ancient architecture, old neighborhoods, and modern skyscrapers coexist.

It reflects the contradictions and complexity of many Chinese cities—

where tradition and modernity collide,

where chaos and beauty intertwine.

When COVID-19 hit,

this relentless city came to a sudden halt.

It was then I began to reexamine its evolving role in global trade.

Today, I live in London.

Yet I constantly come across products from Yiwu—

in shops, markets, even friends' homes.

These moments feel like invisible threads tying me back to my roots.

This is about Yiwu,

my Yiwu.”