Huaqiangbei issues 1st official AI recommendation list

In a sign of how technology is reshaping holiday shopping in China, Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei, one of the country’s largest electronics trading districts, has released its first official sales-based AI Lunar New Year recommendation list, spotlighting eight hardware categories that are driving pre-holiday sales.

International buyers browse electronic products at a shop in Huaqiangbei, Futian District. Photos by Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

The list, compiled from sales data across the district’s markets over the past two months, reflects what is actually moving off shelves in one of the world’s largest electronics trading hubs.

Overall technology sales in Huaqiangbei have risen more than 30% in the past two months compared with regular periods, according to figures released by the local subdistrict authority. Among the fastest-growing segments: AI-powered smart glasses, up 70% to 80%, and drones and robotics products, up 30% to 50%.

For international residents, business travelers and overseas buyers navigating Shenzhen’s vast electronics marketplace, the list is a data-backed snapshot of what is widely available and in demand ahead of the Spring Festival.

An international visitor tests a drone at a shop in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen.

What’s on the list

The so-called Huaqiangbei's “AI Top Eight” covers:

Drones

Robotics

AI smart glasses

AI toys

AI watches

AI translation devices

AI learning devices

AI speakers

Rather than ranking brands, the list reflects category-level transaction trends.

That distinction matters in Huaqiangbei, where product density is high and dozens of vendors may offer variations of similar devices within walking distance.

Merchants in the highlighted categories are offering Spring Festival promotions, though terms vary by vendor.

Practical picks for intl. shoppers

Two overseas buyers examine AI-powered smart glasses at a booth in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen.

For cross-border visitors, AI translation devices and smart glasses with real-time translation functions stand out. Local authorities report that the number of overseas buyers visiting the district has doubled year-on-year, coinciding with increased demand for portable communication tools.

Drones remain popular with younger consumers and content creators, though buyers traveling abroad are advised to confirm aviation rules and battery transport restrictions in their home countries.

AI watches and health-monitoring wearables are frequently purchased as family gifts, particularly for older relatives, combining practicality with seasonal sentiment.

For households with children, AI learning devices and interactive robotics products have gained traction as education-oriented gifts.

International buyers are advised to confirm language settings, plug standards, warranty coverage and customs regulations before purchasing electronics intended for overseas use.

An aerial view of Huaqiangbei. 

Spanning 1.45 square kilometers in central Shenzhen, Huaqiangbei hosts 35 specialized electronics markets and an estimated 115,000 merchants. The district’s dense supply-chain ecosystem allows buyers to compare prices, test products, configure devices and arrange after-sales service within a single commercial zone.

Local authorities estimate average daily foot traffic at approximately 750,000 visits.

That concentration of retail, manufacturing coordination and export activity has long made Huaqiangbei a sourcing destination for international traders. The new holiday recommendation list formalizes what has historically been an informal process: asking vendors what’s selling fastest.