As one of the top shopping destinations in Shenzhen, Huaqiangbei Commercial Street is renowned for it’s electronics markets, but it also has plenty to offer those looking for mens and womens fashion.

The shopping area starts where Huaqiang North Road, or Huaqiang Bei Lu, intersects with Shennan Middle Road and then all the way north through to Hongli Road. The side streets, and the streets running parallel on either side of Huaqiangbei North Road, are also full of life too, making this an incredibly large shopping destination.

The area is reported as being the largest electronics market in China, and possibly one of the largest in the world, which stands to reason as Shenzhen is a major producer of electronics goods, and it’s a city where many big brand tech gadgets are produced.

There are over 20 shopping malls located in the Huaqiangbei area which provides about 70 million square meters of business area. Annual sales reaching over 20 billion, and there’s something like 130,000 people employed in the area. Yep, it’s large.

For the first time visitor it can be almost overwhelming, with so much spread over such a huge area where do you start? So, lets try to break it down a little.

Electronics

SEG Electronics Market

The big malls for electronics and gadgets include:

SEG Electronic Market– 10 floors including cables, tools, electronic parts, PC’s, laptops, GPS

Huaqiang Electronic World – several multi floor buildings, including parts (new and used), electronics repairs, tools, chips, LED, cables then into consumer electronics.

Yuanwang Digital Mall – mobile cell phones, computers, gadgets, iphone & ipad cases and accessories

Cyber Digital Mall – cameras, brand name electronic gadgets

Golconda Cyber Plaza – mostly locally produced mobiles plus gadgets.

SED Electronic Communication Market – smart phones and tablet PC’s. Plenty of superpads, e-pads and android tablets, both wholesale and retail.

Plus many many more including the chain store electronics retailers Gome and Sunning which have several outlets in the area.

Clothes and Fashion

Womens World – multi floor mall packed with independent stores selling bags, jewellery, beauty care, accessories and womens fashion.

Jiahua Foreign Trade Clothing Market – here you may find lots of brand name goods made in china, mens and womens clothes

Fuming Foreign Trade Clothing Market – mens and womens fashion plus some curios.

NICO Womens Department Store – multi floor mall packed with independent stores selling bags, accessories and womens fashion.

Childrens World– some toys and mostly childrens clothes.

MAOYE Department Store – Mens and Womens Fashion, accessories, beauty products.

Jewellery

Duty-free jewelry store

Shenzhen Watch Market & Clock Market – Zhenxing Road

and much more…

You wont go hungry at Huaqiangbei either as there’s plenty of options including the popular western chains like KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, many local restaurants, theres a buffet lunch and dinner at the Difu Hotel, and theres loads of street stalls.

Should I buy in Hong Kong or Shenzhen?

That’s a question that gets asked a lot. To put it very simply, buy brand name electronics in Hong Kong and everything else in Shenzhen. Laptops and PC equipment will not only be cheaper in HK, also you will get English software and material, as an example, most PC’s and Laptops running Windows are locked to Chinese language and you need to pay to upgrade and install language packs. Just buy it in HK.

Getting There:

Subway: The subway makes it easy, just get off the metro line 1 (Luobao Line) at Huaqiang Lu Station and wander out exit A then walk straight ahead and you’ll be at Huaqiang Bei Lu. Can also take the Shekou line and get off at Huaqiang North station.

Bus Station: 上海宾馆东 (Shanghai Hotel East station) – Buses from this station: 4,95,101,203,204,212,335,K113,K204,N5

Taxi: 赛格电子市场 (SEG Electronics market in Chinese)

(source: shenzhenshopper.com)