ANDREA TRIBOLDI stepped into Huaqiangbei, the well-known electronics hub, with a handwritten shopping list of 20 products, noting model numbers, prices and stall locations. At the top was a DJI drone for the Italian tourist’s 11-year-old son.

The theme of this year’s APEC summit is “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together.” China has flagged openness, innovation and cooperation as its three core priorities for APEC engagement. Huaqiangbei, among the world’s largest electronics wholesale markets, provides a tangible look at those priorities in commercial action.

Long known for bulk electronic components and low-cost gadgets, the bustling market’s merchandise mix has shifted toward a growing range of smart consumer goods, a reflection of Shenzhen’s push for digital innovation. This ability to roll out new items quickly grows out of its tightly integrated industrial cluster.

The 1.45-sqkm area hosts 35 specialized markets and over 115,000 registered businesses, stocking more than a million kinds of parts and finished goods. Designers, suppliers, prototyping workshops and exporters operate in close proximity, creating an environment where new product ideas can move swiftly from concept to market.

“Foreign buyers used to come mainly for electronic accessories,” said Meng Hangfang, co-founder of local supply-chain platform Zhipinku. “Now robots and wearable AI devices are popular. Many visitors come as soon as new items launch.”

On the market floors, travelers from across the region test these new offerings. A Vietnamese visitor tried a sensor-controlled aircraft model, drawing onlookers to film. Nearby, a group of Vietnamese tourists picked up portable neck massagers. Nguyen Thi Hong Ngoc said the 150-yuan (US$22) massager outperformed pricier alternatives back home, and nearly everyone in her group bought one.

Figures show that sales of AI products in Huaqiangbei rose more than 55% year on year in the first seven months of 2026. Sales of AI glasses doubled, while those of drones and robots increased by 60 to 70%.

Choi Minjee, a journalist with the Republic of Korea (ROK)’s Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper who previously covered the tech industry, said she was surprised by the low prices of AI-enabled accessories in Huaqiangbei.

“Such accessories are not yet widely available in the ROK, but they are ubiquitous in Shenzhen,” she said. “You can feel the advantages brought by the city’s complete and mature electronic information industrial chain.”                                    (Xinhua)