The southern Wufengpu area: Kaohsiung’s largest wholesale garment street is right here

Anning Street in Houyi Commercial District, Sanchong District, Kaohsiung City, is the largest wholesale garment street in southern Taiwan and is known as the “southern Wufengpu.” Over 80% of the goods are women’s wear. (Photo by Lü Suli)

Many retailers come here to source stock, with packages of ready-made clothes piled on the ground. (Photo by Lü Suli)

Over 80% of the goods are women’s wear. (Photo by Lü Suli)

Located on Anning Street in Sanchong District behind Kaohsiung Railway Station, this is a well-known garment wholesale street in southern Taiwan, also known as the “southern Wufengpu.” Several nearby streets form a cohesive “Houyi Commercial District,” home to more than 400 wholesale shops. Over 80% of them sell women’s clothing, along with men’s wear, children’s wear, accessories, and leather goods—visitors can find a full range of items just by walking around.

Exiting from the back of Kaohsiung Railway Station leads you directly into the Houyi Garment Commercial District, adjacent to the Taiwan Rail station. Together with Taipei’s Wufengpu and Taichung’s Tianjin Street, it is ranked as one of Taiwan’s three major garment wholesale districts.

Wu Yingjie, vice president of the Houyi Commercial District, said that the area spans from Jiouru 2nd Road in the north to Hengfeng Street in the south, and from Chongqing Street in the east to Hankou Street in the west—with Anning Street as the main artery. Stretching nearly one kilometer, the 400-shop garment street is a retail and wholesale hub for fashion and accessories, currently the largest wholesale district in southern Taiwan. Retailers from Yunlin southward, Pingtung northward, and even Taitung come to Houyi to source stock, generating an annual output value of about NT$20 billion.

Wu Yingjie noted that in the early days, Kaohsiung’s garment wholesale scene was centered around Changming Street in front of Kaohsiung Railway Station. About 26 or 27 years ago, it gradually shifted to Anning Street behind the station, where the number of shops expanded even further. It is now a renowned distribution hub for fashion and accessories in the south, offering the latest styles for all age groups—trends for men and women that sync with those in Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.

In the past, Anning Street only did wholesale business, but later began selling retail as well. Many regular customers know that they can find good deals by shopping here, with retail prices lower than those on the street. From February 3 to 14 next year, the annual New Year Goods Street event will take place, with discounts and special offers available at various shops—a great opportunity for shoppers to stock up for the holidays or buy new clothes.

Wu Yingjie said that during its peak, Anning Street was bustling with wholesalers and their vehicles, almost pitch-black with activity. However, as consumption patterns have changed, many customers now place orders via LINE or Facebook and pick up their goods later—making the process much more convenient.