Huaqiangbei reboots bilingual services in push for global appeal

Huaqiangbei Pedestrian Street, known as the world’s largest electronics market, has refreshed its signage to better serve a steadily growing international clientele, with bilingual signage now installed at every key junction, according to a Shenzhen Special Zone Daily report earlier this week.

Each lamp post on the street now carries clear directional arrows. Every Metro exit is flanked by oversized bilingual maps pinpointing hotels, shopping malls, and food courts, and commercial LED screens display information in both English and Chinese.

A large bilingual map is seen at the metro exit at Huaqiangbei Pedestrian Street. Photos courtesy of Huaqiangbei Subdistrict Office

Thirty-five information counters at specialized markets on the street have installed shared translation-device kiosks in prominent locations.

Inside Huaqiangbei Electronics World, an Indian buyer used a pocket translator to negotiate with a vendor and purchased six drones.

“Shopping here is as easy as doing it back home,” he told a Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reporter via the device.

A team of volunteers in orange vests has been patrolling the street. Equipped with AI translators, they communicate with international visitors without language barriers.

“My English is poor, but with this gadget I can chat with foreigners without a hitch,” said volunteer Zhang Yanxia.

According to the Huaqiangbei Subdistrict Office, more than 100 volunteers have already been recruited. Markets and malls on the street are also adding bilingual staff to assist overseas visitors with directions, advice, and personal shopping needs.

Huaqiangbei was named as one of Shenzhen’s first demonstrative international blocks in 2023.

Bilingual road signs are seen at Huaqiangbei Pedestrian Street.

The Shenzhen–Hong Kong BiCity Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture will open a subvenue at Huaqiangbei this December, and the district’s public spaces will be transformed into a global showcase of design ideas and artistic expression.

In the first half of this year, Huaqiangbei averaged 750,000 visitors per day, up 50% year on year, including more than 7,000 foreign visitors per day — double the number from a year earlier.

Huaqiangbei is a paradise for everything from smartphones and drones to rare electronic components and DIY parts.

With its maze of markets, endless stalls, and cutting-edge tech, the district offers an unmatched shopping experience for those seeking the latest gadgets, wholesale deals, or hard-to-find electronic parts.