A woman shops in Yiwu International Trade Market Area 4. [Photo/Yiwu Media Center]

With the continuous optimization and adjustment of epidemic prevention and control measures, the number of resident foreigners in Yiwu now sits at 10,000, and the number is still rising.

Fu Miaoling, a shopkeeper in Yiwu International Trade Market Area 4, said she has received several batches of foreign customers who returned to Yiwu within one month following the implementation of China's optimized COVID response measures.

Face-to-face communication brings increased orders. Fu Miaoling just signed an order worth 120,000 yuan ($17,690) from a customer in the Middle East.

"My shop mainly sells bamboo products such as bamboo tableware, mats, toys and decorations. Customers can see the products on-site, which makes them more willing to buy them," said Fu.

Officials from the Yiwu bureau of commerce and Yiwu foreign affairs office said that since August 2022, they have chartered business flights to transport four batches of 564 foreign buyers, increasing purchase orders by $261 million.

Nepalese restaurant owner Xu Mandan said she has seen many regular customers back for meals in recent days, and that the restaurant's daily turnover has now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Xu Mandan runs a Nepalese restaurant in Yiwu. [Photo/Yiwu Media Center]