A new generation of 'cooling gadgets' from Yiwu - ice-feeling towels, waist-mounted fans and AI smart fans - has become a breakout category in this summer's export season, according to local Yiwu media.
In the first four months of 2026, Yiwu's cross-border e-commerce sales reached 52 billion yuan (about 7.2 billion U.S. dollars), up 17% year-on-year. The lightweight, practical products are tapping into the global summer economy.
One towel producer runs four production lines with daily shipments of around 160,000 packs. A waist-fan manufacturer reports orders booked through August, with products shipped to the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.
AI-enabled fans that track users and adjust airflow by room temperature are proving especially popular in European and American markets, illustrating how localized, intelligent upgrades are helping 'Made in China' win overseas consumers.
