Shenzhen shuts world’s biggest electronics wholesale market Huaqiangbei for 4 days as city steps up Covid-19 control

Huaqiangbei district in China’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen, a global electronics sourcing centre, has been ordered to close from Monday to Thursday

The city of over 17 million, which managed to contain a Covid-19 outbreak within a week in March, has been hailed as a model of effective governance

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People at Huaqiangbei Commercial Street in Shenzhen, in China’s southern Guangdong province, on July 12. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:30pm, 29 Aug 2022Updated: 3:43pm, 29 Aug 2022

China’s southern technology hub of Shenzhen has shut down Huaqiangbei district, home to the world’s largest electronics wholesale market, as local authorities strengthened measures to contain a fresh Covid-19 outbreak, causing fresh disruptions to local supply chains.

Merchants in the district woke up on Monday to the notice saying that the area will be closed through Thursday. All tenants are required to work from home during the period and take a nucleic acid test every day, according to one of the district’s biggest operators, Huaqiang Electronics World.

The suspension of business operations at Huaqiangbei forms part of a series of broader measures initiated by the Shenzhen government on Monday, including putting five other subdistricts in the commercial hubs of Futian and Luohu under lockdown.

All shops in the affected areas have been ordered to shut down, except for essential businesses, such as supermarkets, restaurants and pharmacies. Restaurants are only allowed to provide takeaways. All dine-in services have been suspended.

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The Shenzhen government on Monday also ordered the indefinite closure of 24 metro stations, most of them located in Futian and Luohu, according to the metro operator.

The city of over 17 million, which managed to contain a Covid-19 outbreak in March after a week-long lockdown, has been hailed as a model of effective governance as Beijing tries to balance its zero-Covid policy with sustaining economic activities.