Huaqiangbei AI products steal the show at Guangdong Delegation Open Day

A lineup of eight AI product categories from Shenzhen’s famed Huaqiangbei market drew wide attention at the Guangdong delegation’s open session during the fourth meeting of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 6. The collection — drones, robots, AI glasses, AI toys, AI watches, AI translators, AI learning devices and AI speakers — attracted a crowd of domestic and international journalists and buyers when it was showcased at the open session.

A reporter who tried an autostereoscopic 3D AI speaker at the event praised the integration of visuals and sound, saying the 3D images and audio “worked naturally together and created a strong immersive atmosphere.” The exhibition highlighted not only the novelty of the products but also the consumer readiness of AI hardware developed and sold in Huaqiangbei.

AI products on display at Guangdong delegation’s open session during the fourth meeting of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 6. Photo from Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

The momentum behind the lineup of AI products has already translated into measurable sales. A Huaqiangbei AI products ranking released on Feb. 13 — compiled from real sales data over the previous two months — quickly became a popular global shopping guide for tech buyers ahead of the Chinese New Year. During the Spring Festival period, some Huaqiangbei stalls recorded single-day sales exceeding 10,000 yuan. Overall revenue rose by 35%, while sales in the eight AI categories jumped 55% year-on-year.

Category breakdowns were especially striking: AI toys surged by 200%; drones climbed by 90%; AI glasses rose by 80%; AI watches and AI translators each grew by 40%; robots and AI learning devices each increased by 30%; and AI speakers grew by 20%. Consumer electronics, smart terminals and AI wearables saw sales roughly 30% above usual levels during the promotional period, according to Huaqiangbei market sources.

A visitor is interested in LuckyMate at Guangdong delegation’s open session. Photo by Lai Li

The Huaqiangbei Subdistrict Office reported an average daily flow of about 750,000 people through the area, including more than 7,000 international merchants each day. Promotional activities recently boosted traffic in the core commercial zone by 10-15%, with notable increases in out-of-town and foreign buyers. The rise in visitors has translated into spillover benefits for local businesses: nearby restaurants, logistics providers and supporting services reported revenue increases of about 8%.

Industry observers say the rapid uptake of AI products in Huaqiangbei reflects a broader shift in Shenzhen’s role from a global electronics distribution hub to a testing ground and showcase for applied AI solutions. The share of AI products in Huaqiangbei’s overall product mix has grown from about 12% in 2023 to 41% in 2026, signaling the market’s accelerating repositioning toward intelligent terminals and consumer AI applications.

Huaqiangbei vendors expressed hope that the open day exposure, combined with strong sales performance, will help bring AI devices from early adopters to the mass market and further stimulate downstream industries.