My journey into buying toys in bulk began back in 1990 when Taiwan was the primary hub for toy manufacturing. Taiwanese factories were renowned for producing high-quality toys at reasonable prices. However, in the early 1990s, these toy manufacturers began relocating to mainland China. By 1995, China had firmly established itself as the world’s epicenter for toy production.

Recognizing the shift, I knew that to succeed in sourcing toys from Chinese factories, I needed to learn Mandarin. I started by enrolling in a Mandarin course at a university, and I further honed my language skills by studying privately with Chinese tutors.

Over the next 25 years, my ability to speak Mandarin became a pivotal factor in my success in the toy business.

My journey in sourcing toys led me to Yantai, Shandong province, an unconventional choice.  I met a resourceful and capable supplier at the Canton Fair. Impressed by her, I decided to follow her to Yantai, and this decision led to the creation of my first best-selling toy, a set of building blocks called Instant Blox or Ideal Blox.

In those early days, there were some amusing yet frustrating experiences. When I inspected my first container of building blocks, I noticed that many of the gift boxes (individual packaging) were not properly glued and were opening. To my astonishment, the manager of the printing factory nonchalantly remarked, “I know the glue is not good, and the boxes are opening, but… so far, no one has complained.”

While it may seem humorous now, I was genuinely exasperated. It was evident that Yantai, despite its charm and its port, was not the ideal location for toy production. The real epicenter for toy manufacturing in China was, and still is, Guangdong province. I promptly boarded a plane, traveling from Yantai to Beijing, and then from Beijing to Shantou.

Shantou, one of the largest cities in Guangdong, is not the main toy manufacturing hub; that distinction belongs to Chenghai. Chenghai, often referred to as Shantou, is responsible for producing a remarkable 82% of all the toys sold worldwide. It’s a small area, roughly a 20-minute drive from Shantou, and remains relatively unknown, even to many Chinese residents. My introduction to Chenghai came from a Taiwanese supplier.

As I delved into Chenghai, I discovered a city teeming with intelligent, hardworking individuals with a natural aptitude for business. The rest, as they say, is history. If you’re in the market for bulk toy purchases at competitive wholesale prices, Chenghai is your destination.

You may venture to the Hong Kong Toy Fair every January in search of reputable toy suppliers, but what you’ll find is a multitude of Chenghai trading companies.

The same holds true at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou; Chenghai’s toy factories and suppliers are everywhere.

Lastly, there’s the Yiwu wholesale toys market, an enormous indoor marketplace featuring a multitude of toys available at wholesale prices. Nevertheless, even here, you’ll encounter Chenghai’s influence, particularly in the realm of advanced technology toys like remote control toys and RC drones.

In conclusion, if you seek quality toys at wholesale prices and wish to purchase in bulk, Chenghai in the Shantou region is your go-to destination. It’s undeniable that Chenghai is the primary toy manufacturing hub, supplying toys to the entire world. In fact, Chenghai has earned the moniker ‘Toy City,’ a one-of-a-kind city where nearly every building houses a toy factory, and where nine out of ten people are in some way connected to the production and sale of wholesale toys.

Chenghai is situated approximately four hours north of Hong Kong or just a quick 40-minute flight away. While Mandarin is spoken there, the local Chaoshanese dialect is used among the residents.

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of how to locate the best wholesale toy suppliers in China, here’s the most crucial advice: There’s no need to travel to China, and no need to visit Chenghai. Simply browse our database of Chinese Wholesale Toy Suppliers right here on this site, where you’ll find an extensive selection of Chenghai toy factories and trading companies offering the latest and greatest toys for sale, with direct shipments from China at incredibly low wholesale prices!