Song Shiqiang (center) with members of the “Explorer” research group

Summary:
The research article “Beyond the Copycat Label: How Huaqiangbei Is Racing Ahead on the Innovation Track” by students from the “Explorer” research program was recently published on Youth for SDG — a global platform for young people to learn about and participate in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As a representative of Huaqiangbei, Song Shiqiang, General Manager of Shenzhen SlkorMicro Semiconductor Co., Ltd., was interviewed in depth.

Mr. Song Shiqiang, General Manager of Kinghelm and SLKOR

Song provided a comprehensive overview of Huaqiangbei’s past, present, and future, highlighting its bold, pioneering culture and offering rich business insights and market data. (Read the original Youth for SDG article here: https://youthforsdg.org/2025/07/14/reinvention/)

Youth for SDG’s advisory board includes former senior officials from the United Nations Association of China, ex-diplomats, senior UN officials in Africa, and founders of international youth sustainability organizations. The platform features introductions to the UN SDGs, youth-led research on sustainability issues, reflections on global development, and stories of outstanding “SDG Guardians” worldwide.

In the section “The Code Behind Innovation: Sensitivity and Collaboration at Shenzhen Speed”, Song explained Slkor’s dual-track strategy of data-driven and management-driven growth:

“Our two Huaqiangbei stores act as ‘intelligence stations.’ We collect and analyze daily sales rankings of the top 30 product models and order volumes. This data drives decisions on product development and production allocation. Timing is everything — building an integrated ecosystem of channels, products, and services allows leading technology to connect quickly with production and sales, generating market returns that feed back into R&D. This positive cycle is the secret behind Slkor’s rapid growth in recent years.”

The article was published on “Youth for SDG”! Mr. Song Shiqiang was featured as Huaqiangbei's representative in the exclusive interview!

Ask someone in Shenzhen what Huaqiangbei is known for, and the answer used to be quick: “Copycat phones.”
Once dubbed “China’s No. 1 Electronics Street”, the district gained fame for lightning-fast replicas of new devices. When Apple released a new iPhone, lookalike versions would appear in Huaqiangbei within a week — simplified in features but almost identical in appearance, and sold at a fraction of the price.

A local procurement agent recalled:

“In its early days, Huaqiangbei reached its peak thanks to components and copycat phones. Now, it’s slowly shedding that image. In terms of innovation and R&D, Shenzhen — and especially Huaqiangbei — should definitely be ranked among China’s top cities.”

Today, the “speed” remains, but it’s now applied to innovation-driven growth. Companies like Vision AI chipmaker Chaoshang Technology, precision medical device firm Zhenshi Medical, and service robotics pioneer Elephant Robotics have all won national innovation awards, proving Huaqiangbei’s strength in hardware innovation and commercialization.

This shift from imitation to precision innovation shows Huaqiangbei is embracing a higher-quality, more future-focused kind of “fast.”

From Component Bazaar to Smart Product Hub

Mr. Song Shiqiang's Research on Huaqiangbei

“The product focus is still electronics, but the categories are clearly changing,” says Wang, Secretary-General of the Huaqiangbei Street Chamber of Commerce. “It used to be all about electronic components. Now drones for the low-altitude economy, humanoid robots, robotic pets — they’re all taking off.”

Official 2024 data shows that of Huaqiangbei’s 35 specialty markets, 15 have undergone high-end upgrades, focusing on premium consumer electronics, smart hardware, and innovative applications. Walk into the SEG Electronics Market today and you’ll find smartwatches, high-quality power banks, Bluetooth speakers, and premium hairdryers dominating the first two floors.

SLKOR's Second Direct-Operated Store in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen

Market managers have adapted quickly to new buying trends, especially with more customers coming from Hong Kong. Some floors have been restructured to boost the share of consumer electronics — a costly move, but one that keeps the district in sync with demand.

Meanwhile, high-tech brands with strong in-house R&D are emerging. For example:

l LaserPecker – a leader in portable laser engraving machines.

l Sodisen – designer of adjustable, portable, and ultra-quiet PC accessories.

l Sanag – an AI-powered ear-clip headset brand with over 200 domestic and international patents.

The rise of the low-altitude drone economy has further expanded Huaqiangbei’s smart hardware potential — from agricultural spraying drones to waterproof marine drones, building-cleaning drones, and synchronized aerial light show fleets.

From Hardware Assembly to Functional Innovation

"How to Sustain Growth During Economic Transformation?" – Mr. Song Shiqiang's Global Live Speech from Huaqiangbei

“In Huaqiangbei, you can buy products you can’t find anywhere else — and often at the lowest prices,” is a phrase heard over and over.

Product design is evolving fast: translators that once were bulky now stick to the back of a phone like a credit card; keyboards and mice are lighter, more portable, and more stylish. Companies are also tailoring solutions to specific use cases, such as hands-free audio systems for classrooms or AI-enabled hospital check-in devices that give voice reminders after children’s vaccinations.

Customization and scenario-driven innovation have become a norm — a key step in Huaqiangbei’s transformation from an assembly market to a solutions market.

The Innovation Code: Sensitivity + Collaboration

SLKOR's Marketing Innovation: Agility and Synergy Behind the Speed

Huaqiangbei’s edge lies in its hyper-fast market response and tight-knit supply chain.

Merchants pivot quickly — moving from second-hand phones to high-end drones or pet robots before trends peak. Store owners monitor top product lists daily and stock new bestsellers immediately.

SLKOR Semiconductor (www.slkormicro.com) Company Profile

For manufacturers like Slkor, the strategy is systematic. Song Shiqiang’s dual-track approach combines daily retail intelligence with a channel-product-service ecosystem, ensuring technology and market are perfectly aligned.

The district’s full-industry-chain advantage means that from idea to market-ready product can take less than a week. Design talent, abundant component inventory (30 billion electronic parts in just 1.46 km²), and nearby trade shows like the Shenzhen Electronics Fair all contribute to this speed.

Equally important is mutual support — merchants share stock, split orders, and exchange leads via social groups. Larger companies connect through the Chamber of Commerce, which hosts networking events, live-streaming training, and cross-industry resource matchmaking.

The Innovation Report Card

SLKOR Semiconductor: The Epitome of Huaqiangbei's Corporate Innovation

Has Huaqiangbei truly achieved innovation? Opinions differ. Some feel products still lean toward “cool gadgets” rather than life-changing breakthroughs. Others see huge potential — from a “Low-Altitude Economy Street” dedicated to drone technology to international customers buying the latest DJI drones right from the source.

Whether facing skepticism or excitement, Huaqiangbei is running hard on the innovation track. The lights on “China’s No. 1 Electronics Street” are still bright — but now they illuminate a street reinventing itself as a global hardware innovation hub.