Every product has a home town.
In China, factories for the same product cluster together, sometimes a whole town of them. Knowing where to look is half of sourcing well. Here are the clusters I get asked about most by NZ and Pacific businesses.
Pick a category
A cluster is where many factories are concentrated. The right factory for you can still be somewhere else, and that’s part of the job.
Furniture
Foshan, GuangdongLecong’s furniture streets: sofas, dining, office and hotel furniture.
Tiles & bathroom ware
Foshan, GuangdongCeramic tiles, toilets, vanities and tapware for full bathroom fit-outs.
Aluminium profiles
Foshan, GuangdongWindow and door frames, shopfitting and industrial extrusions.
Cabinet hardware
Gaoyao, GuangdongHinges, drawer slides and handles for kitchens and joinery.
Stainless kitchenware
Jieyang, GuangdongPots, trays and utensils for homes, cafés and commercial kitchens.
Plywood & building materials
Linyi, ShandongPlywood, boards and one of the country’s biggest building-materials markets.
Hardware & tools
Yongkang, ZhejiangHand and power tools, locks, doors and metal hardware.
Lighting
Guzhen, ZhongshanPendants, downlights, LED strip, outdoor and commercial lighting.
Electronics
Shenzhen, GuangdongConsumer electronics, accessories, components and smart devices.
Small appliances
Cixi & Ningbo, ZhejiangFans, heaters, kitchen appliances and household electricals.
Beauty & cosmetics
Guangzhou, GuangdongSkincare, nail and lash supplies, and private-label manufacturing.
Salon & barber furniture
Foshan, GuangdongBarber chairs, styling stations, wash units and spa beds.
Ceramic tableware
Jingdezhen & ChaozhouPlates, cups and serveware for restaurants, cafés and retail.
Towels & bedding
Gaoyang & NantongTowels from Gaoyang (Hebei), bedding and home textiles around Nantong (Jiangsu).
Clothing
Guangzhou, GuangdongFrom fast fashion to uniforms, with Zhongda fabric market next door.
Shoes
Wenzhou & JinjiangLeather shoes from Wenzhou (Zhejiang), sports and casual footwear from Jinjiang (Fujian).
Bags & leather goods
Guangzhou, GuangdongHandbags, luggage, wallets and the trims to make them.
Toys
Chenghai, ShantouPlastic, electronic and ride-on toys. Check NZ toy safety rules first.
Kids’ clothing
Zhili, HuzhouBabywear and children’s clothing at volume.
Prams & baby gear
Pinghu, ZhejiangStrollers, car-seat accessories and nursery products.
Gifts & small goods
Yiwu, ZhejiangThe world’s biggest small-commodities market. Great for mixed first orders.
Use this as a starting point, not a supplier list. I check every factory before you pay: business licence, what they make in-house, samples and a quality check.
Wholesale markets are for discovery. Factories are for margin.
Markets like Yiwu and Guangzhou let you see thousands of products in a day, with lower minimums. For your core range, going direct to the factory usually means better price and control.
Most of these are at the Canton Fair too.
One trip to Guangzhou puts thousands of these factories under one roof.
Not sure where yours is made?
Send me the product. I’ll tell you where to look and what it might land at in NZ.