HANGZHOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- On her desk in Yiwu, the eastern Chinese city dubbed "the world's supermarket," Xu Lihong, 48, keeps banknotes from nearly 100 countries and regions neatly pressed beneath a pane of glass.
Each one tells a story of a deal struck, a market entered, or a relationship forged during her journey as a successful entrepreneur. As the Year of the Horse begins and with it Xu's own zodiac year, the collection feels less like a set of souvenirs and more like a balance sheet of ambition.
In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes stamina, speed and forward motion. For Xu, a veteran exporter of LED lighting products, who has spent nearly two decades navigating Yiwu's relentless trading floors, the meaning is hard to miss.
"It feels like the right moment to run faster," she said, outlining plans to push into new markets across Europe and Brazil.
The habit of collecting foreign banknotes began almost by accident. Overseas buyers browsing Xu's display would often ask why their country was missing, then press a banknote into her hand. Over time, these gestures accumulated into a quiet archive of Yiwu's reach, reflecting a city whose small commodities circulate far beyond its modest geography.
Xu belongs to a distinctive cohort in Yiwu. Like her, many female entrepreneurs in the small commodity hub have transformed family workshops into export-driven global operations.
Locally, they are known as "boss ladies," a term that signals both commercial success and visibility on the internet.
Like many family-run businesses in Yiwu, Xu's family follows a typical division of labor. Xu manages the storefronts and negotiates directly with foreign buyers, while her husband oversees the nearby factory.
Already successful in selling both online and offline, Xu designs about 200 new products each year, constantly refreshing her catalogue to keep pace with shifting tastes.
Her ambitions are underpinned by Yiwu's formidable trading infrastructure. The Yiwu International Trade Market, which houses nearly 80,000 booths offering over 2.1 million types of commodities, maintains trade ties with 233 countries and regions worldwide. According to Yiwu Customs, Yiwu saw its foreign trade value reach a record high of 836.5 billion yuan (about 120.24 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025.
A similar emphasis on innovation drives Judy Chen, who is 36 and shares the zodiac year of the horse with Xu. Guided by her mother, Chen, the manager of Zhejiang Yinyuan Optical Instruments Co., Ltd., embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 24. Twelve years on, she has established her own brand and company, which now serves a client base of over 1,000.
"I plan to expand our R&D team to break through technical barriers," said Chen, noting that R&D already accounts for over 30 percent of the company's total investment, a figure she expects to rise further.
She aims to reduce costs and introduce a diversified range of affordable, AI-enhanced products. "I want to make telescopes that boast both technical sophistication and mass appeal, with options like cartoon or IP-themed designs," she added.
Luo Xinyi, 24, and also born in the Year of the Horse, represents a new generation of Yiwu merchants, defined by fresh perspectives and a keen eye for emerging opportunities.
Luo has launched Basa Jewelry at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center. While her mother, Yao Yefei, has spent more than two decades in the pearl business, Luo is experimenting with new paths, ranging from talk shows to micro-short dramas organized by the market itself.
"These formats help us connect with customers in ways that feel natural to my generation," Luo said. For her, innovation extends beyond product design to branding, influencer collaboration and original IP creation. Commerce, in this view, is as much about storytelling as it is about transactions.
By blending creative branding with digital outreach, Luo aims not only to sustain her business but to shape its identity in a rapidly evolving marketplace, reflecting broader shifts in how the younger generation in Yiwu approaches commerce.
"The Year of the Horse carries many positive symbols in the lunar calendar, and it also happens to be our zodiac year. We hope our business will thrive and prosper in this spirited year," said Yao, who is also 48 years old and shares the zodiac year with her daughter. "I hope she will forge her own path with a down-to-earth but pioneering spirit." ■
