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    IT is said that at least 60 percent of the spectacless on the earth are made in Shenzhen.

    As the country’s and the world’s largest medium and high-end spectacles frame production base, the city is responsible for more than 80 percent of the country’s spectacles frame exports and more than 50 percent of the country’s spectacles production.

    Over the past 30 years, the city’s spectacles industry has become a sophisticated industrial chain. However, as there are few popular domestic brands, most of the factories and companies in the city are foundry manufacturers for the world’s leading brands, such as Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Hugo Boss, S.T. Dupont, Gucci and Montblanc.

    At present, there are nearly 500 spectacles manufacturing companies in the city, mostly in Henggang Subdistrict, Longgang District, producing nearly 200 million pairs of spectacless a year. Ninety-five percent of their products are exported to more than 130 countries and regions, accounting for more than 70 percent of market share in Europe and about 60 percent on the global market.

    With such strong support, it is easy to get a pair of high-quality glasses in Shenzhen at any of the city’s wholesale and retail markets very cheaply. In these markets, you will find that all frames are cheaper than in high street stores, no matter whether they are plastic, panel materials, alloy or pure titanium.

    Henggang is the country’s largest spectacles wholesale market. At present, there are more than 300 spectacles manufacturers in Henggang with an annual production volume of 13 billion yuan (US$2.06 billion). Among these, there are some of the world’s most famous spectacles brands and more than 20 Hong Kong-listed companies.

    About 200 meters away from the Metro station, there are several large wholesale markets in the area such as Henggang Spectacless City and Zhonghuan Spectacless City. A pair of pure titanium spectacles frames, which would cost at least 1,000 yuan in a high-street optical shop, can be found for about 120 yuan at the market. If you go with several friends, you may get a pair for about 80 yuan after bargaining.

    Lenses are slightly more expensive as Shenzhen is not the largest production base for lenses (the largest base is in Jiangsu Province). Even so, it is easy to get a pair of beautiful and high-quality designer glasses made with imported materials at only 500 yuan. Most of the shops have an assembling service and can deliver the glasses to your home in only a few days.

    If Henggang is too far away, you can try Zhongwei Spectacless City in Luohu District. Located in the center of Dongmen commercial area, the market is hidden on the 4th and 5th floors of the Zhongwei Shopping Center.

    Prices at the wholesale market are more expensive than in Henggang, but they are generally of a higher quality as most of the optical chain stores in the city get their products directly from wholesale stores here. Cheap but trendy spectacles frames for the fashion-conscious can also be found in Zhongwei and their average price will be no more than 15 yuan per pair.

    If you find it is exhausting to wade through these crowded wholesale markets, Luohu Commercial City in Luohu District may be your best choice. As well as spectacles, there are also various types of sunglasses, from the trendiest to the quirkiest. Most pairs cost from 50 to 100 yuan, but bargaining is important here.

Henggang Spectacles City: Opposite to the Longxiang Hospital, Shenhui Road, Longgang District (龙岗区深惠路龙翔医院斜对面)

Metro: Henggang Station (横岗站),Exit A

Zhongwei Spectacles City: 4-5/F, Zhongwei Shopping Plaza, Dongmen, Renmin Road North, Luohu District (罗湖区人民北路东门中威购物广场4-5楼)

Metro: Laojie Station (老街站), Exit A

Luohu Commercial City (near the Railway Station), 25 Guangchang Road, Luohu District (罗湖区火车站广场路25号罗湖商业城)

Metro: Luohu Station (罗湖站), Exit B