Durban China City — Springfield Park’s wholesale shopping mall
Hundreds of independent traders under one roof on Inanda Road. Homeware, clothing, toys, electronics, party supplies, hardware and packaging — at prices that let you resell.
Durban China City is a wholesale and retail shopping centre at 269 Inanda Road, Springfield Park, Durban. It houses hundreds of independent traders selling homeware, clothing, toys, electronics, party supplies, hardware and packaging, and is open 09:00 to 17:00 seven days a week. Phone 031 577 1615.
What Durban China City is
Durban China City, known to most shoppers as China Mall Springfield, is a covered shopping centre on Inanda Road in Springfield Park. It is not one shop. It is a whole centre of independent traders, each running their own unit, each buying their own stock and setting their own prices.
That structure is the whole point. A household shopper can walk in for one lamp and walk out having paid a fraction of chain-store money. A small trader can walk the same aisles, buy the same lamp by the carton, and build a business on the difference. Both happen here every day.
What you will find
Home and kitchen — crockery, glassware, pots, utensils, storage, small appliances
Decor and soft furnishings — curtains, bedding, rugs, mirrors, artificial plants, wall art
Clothing, shoes and fabric — basics, kidswear, bags, fabric by the metre, haberdashery
Toys, party and events — toys, balloons, decor, tableware, gift packaging
Electronics and accessories — phone cases, cables, power banks, lighting, rechargeables
Hardware, tools and outdoor — hand tools, fasteners, garden, braai and camping gear
Beauty and salon supplies — nails, hair accessories, brushes, salon consumables
Packaging and business supplies — bags, boxes, containers, display and signage
Come early on a weekday if you want space to compare. Saturdays are the busiest day of the week, and the last two weeks before Christmas and the start of the school year are the busiest of the year. Allow two to three hours for a proper first visit; the centre is larger than it looks from the road.
Our first-timer’s guide covers what to bring, how to find a stall again once you have walked past it, and the mistakes that cost people money on their first trip. If you are driving in from elsewhere in Durban, the directions guide covers routes, taxis and parking.
Buying for a business
A large share of the people walking these aisles are not shopping. They are buying stock. Spaza and tuck shop owners, market traders, salon owners, decor hirers, online sellers and event planners all restock here because the volume pricing works and there is no minimum spend to walk through the door.
Durban China City trades from 09:00 to 17:00, seven days a week. Public holiday hours can differ, and individual traders occasionally open later or close earlier than the centre, so phone 031 577 1615 on the day if you are travelling a long way for something specific.
Where exactly is Durban China City?
Durban China City is at 269 Inanda Road, Springfield Park, Durban, in the Umgeni Business Park area of KwaZulu-Natal. It is a short drive from the N2 and M19 and roughly fifteen minutes from the Durban CBD outside peak traffic.
Is Durban China City the same as China Mall Springfield?
Yes. Durban China City is the centre’s name, but most Durban shoppers call it China Mall Springfield or the Springfield china mall. Both names refer to the centre at 269 Inanda Road, Springfield Park.
Do I need to be a business to shop here?
No. Anyone can walk in and buy a single item at retail. There is no membership, no minimum spend and no trade card. Buying by the carton usually gets you a better unit price, but that is a conversation with an individual trader, not a requirement.
Is there parking at Durban China City?
Yes, there is free on-site parking. It fills up on Saturdays and in December, so arriving before mid-morning makes loading bulky purchases considerably easier.
Can I pay by card?
Most units accept cards, and many accept instant EFT or QR-code payments. A few of the smallest stalls still prefer cash, so carrying some is sensible. Ask before you commit to a purchase.
Durban China City is on 269 Inanda Road, Springfield Park, a few minutes off the N2 and M19 in Durban. There is free parking on site, and minibus taxis run past the entrance from the Durban CBD ranks.
