Entertainment is one of the things that make life more pleasant. We learn about the world from a very young age by playing with toys. They are the perfect educational tools that free one’s imagination. It is very unlikely that the demand for such products will disappear. China is the biggest exporter of toys in the world and has a wide selection of those types of products. If you want to find a reliable business partner, it is worth participating in trade fairs, whether in Shantou (which is the main toy production area in China) or nearby Guangzhou, and personally visiting the factory. It is best if visits of this type do not collide with the most important Chinese holidays, which usually don’t fall on the same date every year.
About Shantou
Shantou is in Guangdong province, and since the 1980s, it has been part of the special economic zone. Since 1993, a part of the city is a Free Trade Zone. Shantou’s coastal location and interesting tourist attractions make it a hot travel destination.
Thanks to the wide access to the sea, Shantou has become one of the strategic cities of economic importance in China, maintaining business relations with countries all around the world. Already in the 19th century, Shantou was a cosmopolitan city with a large foreign community.
Shantou – toy production area in China
Chenghai district, located in Shantou, is leading in the toy industry. Therefore, it is known as “the capital of toys and gifts in China”. There are over 12,000 toy manufacturers and supporting enterprises, representing more than half of all companies in Chenghai. This district is characterized by the existence of an integrated chain, ranging from design, supply of raw materials, mold processing, parts production, and assembly to forming and, ultimately, sales. To the existing at least one million types of toys, a hundred new ones are produced every day, stimulating the market.
Toy markets in Chenghai
In China’s biggest toy production area, you can visit many wholesale markets and see the manufacturers’ products. The most well-known wholesale toy market in Chenghai is Baoao International Toys City (P.A. International Toys Sourcing Center). At 800,000 m2, there are over 2000 stores of finished products and an additional 300 stores offering raw materials.
Location: Exhibition Center, National Route No. 324, Chenghai, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Website: baoao.st001.com/#page1st/1
In addition to the P.A. International Toys Sourcing Center, the city also operates Chenghai Plastic City. It is famous for the production of plastic toys and gifts. Goods are transported directly from the factory, so prices are lower than in the P.A. International Toys Sourcing Center.
Location: Zhongshanbei, Chenghai, Shantou, Guangdong, China
The name Chenghai Toys Wholesale Market does not refer to a specific place but many existing wholesale toy markets in Chenghai. They provide a wide choice of toys, such as remote-controlled toys, smart toys, dolls, plush toys, puzzles, and much more. Below we present selected exhibition halls.
- CBH Exhibition Hall
A spacious place (13,000 m2) with high-quality products in good packaging.
Location: at the crossroads of Chengjiang and Yutan, Chenghai, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Website: cbh9999.com
- Hoton Exhibition Hall
The first place like that in the region. At 15,000 m2, various products are presented, from wooden toys to costumes and plush toys.
Location: at the crossroads of Fengxin 1 and Xiushui, Fengxiang, Chenghai, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Website: 85804669.com/login.html
- HK Exhibition Hall
At 10,000 m2, approximately 1,500 exhibitors offer their products. They provide excellent customer service – all you need to do is show a picture of the product you are interested in, and the staff will find it in a short time.
Location: at the crossroads of Laimei and Fengxin, Chenghai, Shantou, Guangdong, China
Website: huigang.toysol.com/Index.aspx
Toys trade fairs in Shantou
China Chenghai (Shantou) International Toys & Gifts Fair has been organized in Chenghai since 1999, and it has become the third-largest international toy fair in China. In a large area, in addition to professional exhibitions of toys or gifts, it offers a business, dining, and certification area. The displays present the latest R&D achievements in the field of toys produced in Chenghai, including cross-border e-commerce, financial logistics, science, education, entertainment, intelligent manufacturing, and other related sectors of the industrial chain.
Location: P.A. International Toys Sourcing Center, Chenghai, Shantou, China
Website: chwbh.cn/en/index.html
Toy production area in China: a guide
How to get to Shantou?
The closest airport to Shantou is Jieyang Chaoshan Airport. The airport mainly offers domestic flights. From the airport, you can take a bus to various points in Shantou. Buses leave every half hour or one hour; the journey takes over an hour and costs about 30 RMB. Starting at 110 RMB, you can also take a taxi.
From Guangzhou Airport to Shantou, you can get by intercity bus.
High-speed trains run between Shantou and Xiamen; the cost of travel is 119 RMB.
You can get to Chenghai from Shenzhen by train or highway. The train takes two and a half hours, and the price is about 100 RMB. There is no direct train to the city center. You must change to the bus (about 1 hour, 10 RMB) or a taxi. The trip takes around 4 hours on the highway.
Highways connect Shantou to Meizhou (G78), Shanwei, and Hong Kong (G15).
The journey by bus between the city and Hong Kong is about five and a half hours (50-220 RMB).
How to get around Shantou?
- A taxi is the most convenient means of transport, but it is recommended that you travel with a local guide. Usually, the first 2.5 km costs 10 RMB, and then 2.40 RMB is added for the next kilometer. It is suggested to agree with the driver on the full fare before setting off.
- Bus stops are announced in Mandarin and the Teochew dialect. Fares are not high. For example, it costs 6 RMB to get from one end of the city to the other.
Interested in other production regions besides the toy production area in China? Check out our other posts on this topic.
Going to China? Make sure to download these apps!
When traveling to China, it’s essential to download some locally popular apps to navigate daily activities smoothly.
- Alipay is crucial for making cashless payments almost everywhere, from restaurants to stores. You can even book tickets for attractions via the App!
- Consider installing a VPN on your device to access commonly blocked sites like Google and Facebook,
- For transportation, Didi acts as the Chinese equivalent of Uber and is a reliable option for hailing rides.
- Use an eSIM for easy internet access without the hassle of physical SIM cards.
We’ve been to China many times and gathered our best tips and resources here: Essential China travel tools.