The city of Yiwu has unique trading culture and a thriving economy of commerce. The city has witnessed great historical transformation in trade models, from its small beginnings of local street exchanges to becoming the world’s largest wholesale capital of small commodities.

The design of Yiwu Place sensitively takes into consideration of the duality of local and global cultures, aiming to create a new city image through association of contemporary interpretation of the“marketplace”. The public realm displays multi-cultural inclusiveness integrated with urban street vibes, providing holistic visitor experiences that are unique and memorable.

The conception of contemporary“Marketplace” originates from the historic well, Bajiaojing, located at the north end of the site’s central axis of Xiachemen. The well is among the four most famous wells in Yiwu. Built in Eastern Jin Dynasty, the renowned Bajiaojing is also known as “The Well of Wealth”. It was once a place of water source, and a merchants hub for local trades. More importantly, it is a cultural symbol for the remarkable Yiwu story in microcosm, witnessing the change of a heartbreakingly impoverished city transformed into the land of fortunes.