Today we're investigating the Chinese city that claims to be the home of Christmas.

From the UK, this is Marketplace Morning Report from the BBC World Service.

I'm Ed Butler and Merry Christmas to you all.

I hope you're having a good Christmas morning.

Have you ever wondered where your festive lights,

the baubles and the toys all come from? Well, there's a good chance a fair few of them

originate in the Chinese city of Yiwu. Join me as we find out more about this place

and just how it's being affected by the latest US tariffs.

The sound of traders in the town of Yiwu in central eastern China, attempting to master Spanish.

Language skills like these are important because Yiwu is a major international trading hub,

especially at this time of year, selling commodities to a global market.

Once a small rural town, Yi Yu began gaining a reputation back in the 1980s

for its open-air market selling small commodities.

Now it's a sprawling international trade center, spanning hectares and several floors.

If you are to imagine that Santa Claus has outsourced all of the production of everything he produces,

it would likely be found in Iwu City.

That's Han Lin, China Director for the Consultancy, the Asia Group. Sixth century. he produces, it would likely be found in Iwu City.

That's Han Lin, China Director for the Consultancy, the Asia Group. 60% of all of the global production of Christmas ornaments, for example, are all produced in Iwu.

And Iwu sells to about 500,000 buyers from 200 countries around the world.

There are 50,000 shops in all.

If you were to spend just three minutes in every one of them,

it would take you more than a year to get round the maze of arcades here.

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