Yiwu Spring Festival 2026: What’s Open After February 17? A Global Buyer’s Practical Guide to Sourcing During Chinese New Year
Don’t Be Fooled by “Open All Year”—Know Who’s Really Working
Chinese New Year 2026 falls on Monday, February 17. The official public holiday runs from February 17 to 23 (Lunar New Year’s Day through the seventh day). While Yiwu promotes its “Spring Festival Business Continuity” initiative, not all markets, factories, or logistics providers operate normally during this period. Showing up unprepared could mean wasted travel and missed opportunities.
As a sourcing agency with over a decade of on-the-ground experience in Yiwu, our team conducted field visits in January 2026 to the Yiwu International Trade Mart, Futian Logistics Park, and 32 partner factories. This guide delivers verified, actionable intelligence—not generic promises—to help global buyers source efficiently during the holiday window.
I. Verified 2026 Spring Festival Operating Status (Official + Field-Confirmed)
✅ 1. Yiwu International Trade Mart (Core Zones)
- Opening Dates: February 19 (3rd day of Lunar New Year) onward
- Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Open Stall Rates (by zone):
- Zone 1 (Fashion Jewelry, Earrings, Necklaces): ~65% open, concentrated on 1F Section A and 2F Section B
- Zone 2 (Hardware, Watches): ~50% open
- Zone 5 (Imported Goods): Only ~30% open — not recommended for dedicated trips
- Critical Note: The market is fully closed on February 17–18 (New Year’s Day & 2nd day), with no exceptions (Yiwu Market Development Group, 2026).
📍 Pro Tip: For fashion jewelry (e.g., nickel-free earrings, rose gold pendants), focus on Zone 1, 1F-A and 2F-B. These areas host numerous SGS-certified, small-batch suppliers capable of fast turnarounds.
✅ 2. Factory Production Capacity
- Large Factories (>100 workers): Typically shut down February 10–24, resuming full production February 25. Most do not accept new orders during the break.
- Small/Medium Flexible Factories (YiwuAgents partners):
- 20 verified factories confirmed they will accept orders during Spring Festival
- MOQ: As low as 50–100 pieces
- Lead Time: Samples in 3 days; bulk orders in 10–15 days (for orders placed after Feb 19)
- Materials: Eco-friendly Zamak alloy, nickel-free plating, compliant with EU REACH (SGS reports available)
✅ 3. Logistics & Shipping
- DHL/FedEx Yiwu Service Points: Closed Feb 17–18; resume pickup Feb 19
- Cainiao International Bonded Warehouse: Operates year-round, but no outbound shipments Feb 17–18; resumes Feb 19
- Sea Freight: Ningbo Port reduces operations Feb 17–20; bookings recommended after Feb 21
💡 Key Insight: The optimal ordering window is February 19–23. Markets are open, logistics are active, factories can produce—and you avoid the March rush.
II. Why Source During Spring Festival? Real Cost & Speed Advantages
表格
| Metric | Spring Festival (Feb) | Peak Season (March) | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. MOQ | 50–100 pcs | 300–500 pcs | ↓ 60–80% |
| First-Order Discount | 3–5% common | Rarely offered | Save ~$150+/order |
| Sample Delivery (to US/EU) | DHL: 4 days | 6–8 days (congested) | 40% faster |
| Factory Response Time | <2 hours | 1–2 days | 2x efficiency |
Source: YiwuAgents internal order data, January 2026 (n=47 clients)
IV. How YiwuAgents Ensures Your Spring Festival Sourcing Success
We don’t just quote policies—we deliver on-the-ground execution:
- Free Stall Reservation: Pre-book appointments with verified open vendors in Zone 1
- Live Video Inspections: Daily 10:00 AM–3:00 PM tours of live inventory
- Consolidated Shipping: Hold goods in our secure warehouse, inspect, then ship via DHL (avoid multiple fees)
- Multilingual Contract Review: Ensure clear terms on payment, lead time, and quality standards
“In 2025, we helped a German client place an order for 500 rose gold earrings on February 20. The goods arrived in Berlin on February 28—11 days faster than if they’d waited until March.” — YiwuAgents Client Manager, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (Based on Real Buyer Inquiries)
Q1: When does Yiwu International Trade Mart reopen in 2026?
A: February 19 (3rd day of Lunar New Year). Hours: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM daily. Fully closed Feb 17–18.
Q2: Can I get nickel-free earrings with SGS certification?
A: Yes. Multiple vendors in Zone 1 provide SGS test reports compliant with EU EN 1811. MOQ starts at 100 pieces.
Q3: How long and how much to ship samples to the U.S.?
A: 4–5 business days via DHL. Standard cost: $28–35. YiwuAgents clients pay $22 under our corporate rate.
Q4: Do you accept PayPal or credit card payments?
A: Yes. Orders placed through YiwuAgents support PayPal, Stripe, and bank transfer.
Q5: What if my chosen stall is closed when I arrive?
A: We provide a backup vendor list and guarantee: if sourcing fails, we refund your sample fee in full.
References (APA 7th Edition)
DHL Express China. (2026). Holiday service schedule 2026. https://www.dhl.com/cn-zh/home/contact-us/holiday-schedule.html
SGS. (2025). Nickel release testing for jewelry – Compliance with EU REACH Annex XVII. https://www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods/jewelry-testing
Yiwu Market Development Group. (2026). Notice on Spring Festival business hours for Yiwu International Trade Mart 2026. http://www.ywmarket.com/en/news/spring-festival-2026-hours
Yiwu Municipal Government. (2026). Work plan for ensuring market supply during 2026 Spring Festival (Document No. YZF〔2026〕8).
YiwuAgents. (2026). Internal field survey: Spring Festival operational status of Yiwu suppliers and logistics providers [Unpublished raw data].
