HuaQiangBei electronics market is one of the most popular places for makers in Shenzhen, as you can purchase any kind of components in shops spread across several multi-story buildings. If you can’t find something over there, you’re unlikely to find it anywhere else. So this morning when I read an article entitled “Vendors protest eviction from Shenzhen’s historic Huaqiangbei electronics market” with photos like the one above I was shocked initially thinking the complete market would potentially close.
I can still clearly remember SEG building along the main street when I lived in China many years ago. This building is still up and running, and instead Technode reports about the closure of the eight-story Gaokede building which was planned since the end of 2018, and the owner cut off electricity and water supplies yesterday.
Even if you are a regular visitor, you’d be forgiven if you forgot where Gaokede is located exactly. It’s building 2 on the map above, while the more popular SEG (9) and HuangQiang (6) buildings are located along Shennan Middle road.
The ~2,000 sellers in Gaokede building specialized in products ranging from switches to LED lights to USB cords. Albeit some sellers remain, most are now gone, and vandals have damaged some of the premises which explains the first photo. The building is now scheduled for destruction and rebuilding, so if you used to buy components from this building, you’ll have to find alternative sources.
Thanks to Jon for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress
And those with no idea will really believe that it must have been vandals who have damaged the premises. But don’t mind me, I’m just here to buy some soy sauce.
next week there is already a 16-story makers-hypermarket on its place…
This is terrible news. Here in the US, we have almost zero brick and mortar electronics/computer parts stores. The last big chain in the Bay Area, Frys Electronics closed down spectacularly last year. Now, we have no option except to order online from Amazon or eBay or from the Chinese online stores such as aliexpress or banggood. Apart from Amazon/ebay, we have almost no competition except a few such as PartsExpress, DIgilink to name a few. It will be great if we can get online competitors to Amazon/eBay as buying is not easy i.e the trust factor with Amazon/ebay is a bit frayed as the reviews are sometimes doctored, technical information is bare (Banggood is better) and the return policies are tough. Guess we have to live with this situation until the next pivotal change.