Best Fabric Markets in Guangzhou (My Expat Directory)

MortyUpdated January 21, 20263 Mins read6 Views

If you’re looking for a “fabric market” in Guangzhou, what you’re really looking for is a whole textile district. The main action is in Haizhu, where the Zhongda textile trading circle (中大纺织商圈) is basically a global magnet for fabrics, trims, and garment supply chains. Even the local district government frames it as a key fashion/textile commerce hub with major trading platforms clustered there.

The short version: you don’t go to “one market.” You go to the Zhongda area, then pick the right building(s) based on what you’re buying.

Quick directory table (bilingual names + addresses)

Market / Building	Best for	Name (EN / 中文)	Address (English)	地址（中文）
The big “foreign buyer friendly” building	higher quality fabrics + organized floors	Guangzhou International Textile City / 广州国际轻纺城	No. 2, Jinfang Rd, Haizhu District, Guangzhou	广州市海珠区金纺路2号
One of the main clusters in the Zhongda district	bulk fabric + trims	Changjiang International Textile City / 长江国际纺织城	Ruikang Rd, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (market stretch along Ruikang Rd)	广州市海珠区瑞康路
“Ruikang Road” market strip (general name people use)	lace, embroidery, fashion fabrics, accessories	Ruikang Fabric Market Area / 瑞康路布料商圈	Ruikang Rd, Haizhu District, Guangzhou	广州市海珠区瑞康路
Big-name general district label	“everything” fabric hunting	Zhongda Fabric Market (area) / 中大布匹市场	Around Ruikang Rd + nearby streets, Haizhu District, Guangzhou	广州市海珠区瑞康路及周边
Easy navigation anchor point	metro access reference	Zhongda Metro Station / 中大地铁站	114 Xingang West Rd, Haizhu District, Guangzhou	广州市海珠区新港西路114号

After you arrive, you’ll realize why people describe this place like a maze. It is.

1) Zhongda Fabric Market area (中大布匹市场): the “fabric city” experience

This is the default answer when someone asks me “where’s the fabric market?” It’s not one building. It’s blocks of buildings, each with its own specialty. The vibe is: buyers with suitcases, shop owners moving fast, and a lot of “no photo” energy depending on the booth.

Name: Zhongda Fabric Market (district) / 中大布匹市场
Area: Ruikang Road + nearby streets, Haizhu District / 海珠区瑞康路及周边

What I go here for:

General fabric sourcing (cotton, knit, woven, denim, suiting, etc.)
Trims and accessories (zippers, buttons, lace, elastics)
Comparing prices quickly (same fabric, different stalls, different quotes)

How I shop it (so I don’t waste hours):

I screenshot exactly what I want (fabric photos + close-ups).
I ask 3–5 stalls for price on the same spec (width, composition, weight, MOQ).
I only buy immediately if I’m already sure about quality. Otherwise: swatches first.

2) Guangzhou International Textile City (广州国际轻纺城): the easiest starting point

If you’re new, this is the building I start people in because it’s more structured and less “street chaos.”

Name: Guangzhou International Textile City / 广州国际轻纺城
Address (EN): No. 2, Jinfang Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
地址（中文）: 广州市海珠区金纺路2号

What it’s best for:

Higher-end fabrics and more “showroom” style booths
Faster browsing when you’re not sure what you want yet
Getting swatches in one place before you go deeper into the district

My quick buying tip:

Don’t ask “how much?” first. Ask: “This one: composition + width + grams?” Then price.

3) Changjiang International Textile City (长江国际纺织城): bulk hunting mode

Changjiang is one of the heavy hitters in the Zhongda area, and it’s where I go when I already know the category and I’m comparing bulk pricing.

Name: Changjiang International Textile City / 长江国际纺织城
Address (EN): Ruikang Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
地址（中文）: 广州市海珠区瑞康路

What it’s best for:

Bulk fabrics and trims
Practical “factory supply” options
Negotiation (more room if you buy more)

Rule I use for bargaining (simple, works):

Ask the listed price.
Then ask: “If I take 10 meters? 50 meters? 100 meters?”
You’ll often see the real price structure immediately.

4) Ruikang Road strip (瑞康路): lace, embroidery, accessories, “I need details”

Even if you don’t buy anything, walking Ruikang Road teaches you what Guangzhou’s textile scene looks like. You’ll see fabrics, then whole sections that are basically “everything that goes on a garment.”

Name: Ruikang Fabric Market Area / 瑞康路布料商圈
Address (EN): Ruikang Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
地址（中文）: 广州市海珠区瑞康路

What I come here for:

Lace, embroidery, decorative trims
Garment accessories (patches, appliqués, elastics)
Quick comparisons across many booths in a small radius

What to buy where (so you don’t wander like a lost tourist)

What you need	Where I start	Why
“Good quality” fabrics, showrooms, browsing	Guangzhou International Textile City (广州国际轻纺城)	organized and easier to scan
Bulk basics (cotton/knit/woven)	Changjiang (长江国际纺织城)	better bulk negotiation flow
Lace, embroidery, trims, accessories	Ruikang Rd strip (瑞康路)	dense concentration of details
“I have no idea, I just need fabric”	Zhongda area (中大商圈)	you’ll find everything, eventually

My “don’t get scammed / don’t waste time” checklist

Bring a translation app and save key words: 成分 (composition), 幅宽 (width), 克重 (gsm), 起订量 (MOQ).
Always confirm width + composition + GSM before price.
Buy swatches first if color matters. Lighting lies.
Wear shoes you can walk in. This is not a cute little market.
If someone quotes wildly high, don’t argue. Just walk 30 meters and ask again.