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Sat 10 Oct 2009Where Santa stocks up on stockings

With 62,000 stalls, the Yiwu market is the wholesale face of China’s massive factories, selling everything under the sun to the West, Muslim immigrants – and Santa Claus, writes CLIFFORD COONANin Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China

TO YOUR left, esteemed customers – artificial flowers, cuddly toys, fashion jewellery, hair accessories, jewellery fittings, and arts and crafts items. To your right, moving down this endless row of stalls: photograph frames, crystal, and buckets and spades in lurid reds and yellows.

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