Yet Yiwu has seen a big increase in the number of companies specializing in Christmas items. Many have their own Web sites, and some are starting to branch out into other holidays, such as Halloween.
Competition at the wholesale market is stiff. A 2m tall tree is priced at less than US$4. A package of six sparkling ornaments costs about US$0.25 to make and sells for US$0.36.
On a recent visit to the factory of Shuitou Co, another large maker of Christmas decorations in Yiwu, work was at a near stand-still. The Christmas rush comes during the summer months, and by this time of year most factory workers have left for other jobs. A few women were seated at machines that spun thread around balls to make ornaments, their hands flying as they popped one ball off and pushed another one on.
The vast majority of Yiwu's Yuletide products are shipped overseas. But more and more, Christmas products are not just for export. Each year, holiday decorations in China's big cities seem to spread.
Beijing looks like it has been decorated by a kindergarten teacher. Colorful strings of lights adorn trees throughout the city, adding to the year-round Christmas lights many restaurants have. Holiday placards have gone up over doorways. Shops have painted Christmas trees and Santas on their windows.
Western holidays are an excuse for hotels and restaurants to offer promotions. But ordinary people increasingly find foreign holidays fashionable. Many Chinese city-dwellers now exchange sweets on Valentine's Day and hold parties for Halloween.
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