Huaqiang North has had a facelift

As one of the top shopping destinations in Shenzhen, Huaqiangbei Commercial Street (华强北) is renowned for its electronics markets, but it also has plenty to offer those looking for men’s and women’s fashion.

The shopping area starts where Huaqiang North Road (aka Huaqiang Bei Lu) intersects with Shennan Middle Road and then all the way north through to Hongli Road totaling about 1km in length. Recently revitalized after 4 years of construction work, Huaqiangbei Road is now a modern pedestrian-friendly shopping mecca that is mirrored by an underground mall stretching the same distance, the largest of its type in China.

The side streets and the streets running parallel to Huaqiangbei North Road (namely Huafa North Road) are also full of life too, making this an incredibly large shopping destination for wholesale electronics and components plus retail shopping.

The area is reported as being the largest electronics market in China, and possibly one of the largest in the world, which stands to reason as Shenzhen is a major producer of electronics goods, and it’s a city where many big brand tech gadgets are produced.

There are over 20 shopping malls located in the Huaqiangbei area which provides about 70 million square meters of business area. Annual sales reaching over 20 billion, and there’s something like 130,000 people employed in the area. Yep, it’s large.

For the first time visitor, it can be almost overwhelming, with so much spread over such a huge area where do you start? So, let’s try to break it down a little.

The big malls for electronics and gadgets include:

SEG Electronic Market (赛格广场) – 10 floors including cables, tools, electronic parts, PC’s, laptops, GPS and all types of gadgets. Also has a new section for wearables inc. fitness trackers and smartwatches.

Huaqiang Electronic World (华强电子世界) – several multi-floor buildings, including parts (new and used), electronics repairs, tools, chips, LED, cables, and more consumer electronics.

Yuanwang Digital Mall (远望数码商城) – mobile cell phones, computers, gadgets, iPhone & iPad cases, and accessories. There are also several stores around here selling drones, and one dedicated to DJI drones and accessories with attractive prices on my last visit. Toy quadcopters are everywhere.

Manhar Digital Plaza (曼哈数码广场) – Mainly retail mobile phones, drone stores, with some wholesalers.

SED Electronic Communication Market (桑达电子通讯市场) – smartphones and Android tablets, lots of iPad cases. Wholesale and retail sales.

Longsheng Mobile Phone Market (龙胜手机市场) – older phones, some used, and wholesalers.

Eating

You won’t go hungry at Huaqiangbei either as there’s plenty of options including the popular western chains like KFC, McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, many local restaurants, there is a buffet lunch and dinner at the Difu Hotel, and there are loads of street stalls with local fare.

If you like Hong Kong Tea restaurants there is a Cafe De Coral near the crossroad of Zhenzong Rd. and Huaqiang North Rd.

Looking for something a little healthier with WiFi and relaxed seating, try Ajisen Ramen, the Japanese noodle chain, located one floor above Burger King.

At MAOYE Department Store (茂业百货) there is a large food court on B1, there are endless snack shops through the underground Huaqiang North Metro Commercial Street (华强北地铁商业街), and 9 Square Mall  (九方购物中心) has fast food, casual, and higher-end options.

Getting to Huaqiangbei

Metro is by far the easiest with the area being extremely well connected.

Metro

There are three options now

• take metro line 1 to Huaqiang Road Station (华强路) and go out exit A (closest to SEG)
• take metro line 2 or 7 to Huaqiang North Station (华强北) and go out exit A  (closest to Huaqiang Plaza)
• take metro line 3 or 7 to Huaxin Station (华新) and use exit A or B and walk south (northern end of the Huaqiang North Road)