As global heatwaves sweep across Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, Yiwu - known as the "World Supermarket" - has entered a frenzy of order fulfillment for cooling products, with Chinese-style folding fans emerging as unexpected bestsellers.
Merchants in Yiwu International Trade City report receiving numerous custom orders from European clients. One folding fan featuring an Eiffel Tower design was urgently shipped to Paris, France by air freight.
Merchant Liu Xiaoying explained: "We just shipped a batch to France. People use them for cooling and also as fashion accessories - Chinese style is still very trendy." Historical records show that Chinese folding fans arrived in Europe via the Silk Road in the early 16th century and have been popular ever since.
Veteran fan exporter Deng Aiping revealed that overseas sales account for 85% of her business, with the European market alone comprising 50% - the largest and best-selling region among all overseas markets.
Another merchant, Liu Lianhua, noted that Spain and Italy are core markets, with the store receiving four to five overseas buyer visits daily. Orders are already booked through the second half of the year, with customization options available for style and quantity.
Innovative products like umbrellas with built-in fans and water misting capabilities have also seen strong export demand, with designs inspired by customer needs from around the world.
Source: Guangzhou Yiliu Huayun Center, August 2026
