The once obscure city of Yiwu is famous within China for commodity trading. Any number of goods can be bought here both individually and in bulk. As a consequence, the prices set in this area tend to determine the prices of "small commodities" (household goods) across the whole country. Many people have said that the primary source of entertainment in Yiwu is shopping. There are any number of malls and markets to satisfy even the most inexhaustible of bargain hunters, including Yiwu International Trade City, Huangyuan Market, Biwang Market, Textile Market, Glass Market and the Tie Market.

Visitors trying to avoid indoor markets and modern malls should wait until night falls when the night market on Tiedong Lu in Yiwu Economic Development Zone comes alive. This is a traditional lively, Chinese street market flanked by restaurants, cybercafés, KTV and a skating rink, as well as being an excellent place to sample a wide variety of street foods including hotpots, spicy snacks, Xinjiang food and Dongbei cuisine.