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New Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen

I recently learned about “The New Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen,” a short guide designed for foreign electronic shoppers to navigate Shenzhen’s mesmerizing Huaqiangbei district, and an update to Andrew “bunnie” Huang’s original edition. It turns out the book, full of humorous yet insightful tips, is also an interesting read for Chinese readers.

The “New” in the title implies an “old” edition, written in 2016 by Andrew “bunnie” Huang, a second-generation Chinese American and well-known for his achievements in reverse engineering electronic products, particularly his early explorations of Xbox hacking. Huaqiangbei operates on its own schedule: things don’t start hopping until around 11 a.m., and building managers drive people away after 6 p.m. Also, the two-hour lunch break between 12 and 2 p.m. is just “sacred.” WeChat has become an integral part overlaying the physical marketplace. Vendors at the Huaqiangbei electronics district are mostly factories trying to connect with volume buyers; the representatives at the booths don’t find sport in haggling (although tourism is starting to change the market’s character).

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