Foreign buyers often mention “Dongguan” without realizing how diverse that city is. It is actually a collection of loosely-connected  districts:

Source: Wikipedia

I got some info from Wikipedia and asked my team for on-the-ground info about the main manufacturing sectors in each area.

The so-called “center” of Dongguan

Dongguan is often called the ‘city with no center’… Yet 4 areas can collectively qualify as the center. They are more expensive than other areas, on average.

Dongcheng Subdistrict – 东城街道

• Pop. 492,875
• Electronic products, furniture.

Nancheng Subdistrict – 南城街道

• Pop. 289,255
• Electronic products, metal products, shoes.
• (The location of the DongGuan local government.)

Guancheng Subdistrict – 莞城街道

• Pop. 162,116
• Electronic products
• (The old center of Dongguan city.)

Wanjiang Subdistrict – 万江街道

• Pop. 244,765
• Electronic products, textile & garment, paper-made products.
• (Location of the central bus station.)

Areas along the train lines

Shilong Town – 石龙镇

• Pop. 141,850
• IT products

Changping Town – 常平镇

• Pop. 386,378
• Metal products, woolen products, electronic products, rubber products

Zhangmutou Town – 樟木头镇

• Pop. 132,816
• Rubber products

Humen Town – 虎门镇

• Pop. 638,657
• Textiles, electronic products, toys
• (Relatively expensive; there is now a stop on the new train line between Humen and Houjie.)

Other relatively outstanding areas

Many people who visited many factories in the Pearl River delta have heard of, and been to, these towns.

Shijie Town – 石碣镇

• Pop. 246,960
• Digital products

Liaobu Town – 寮步镇

• Pop. 418,578
• Electronic and electrical products, computers.

Fenggang Town – 凤岗镇

• Pop. 318,971
• IT, garments & textile
• (Just next to Shenzhen.)

Chang’an Town – 长安镇

• Pop. 664,230
• Electronic & electrical products, toys, shoes, textile.
• (Relatively expensive; just next to Shenzhen and not far from Shenzhen airport.)

Houjie Town – 厚街镇

• Pop. 438,283
• Shoes, electromechanical products, furniture

All other areas

I had not even heard of some of these areas!

Chashan Town – 茶山镇

• Pop. 156,522
• Textile, toys

Shipai Town – 石排镇

• Pop. 160,202
• Electronic products, metal products, plastic products

Gaobu Town – 高埗镇

• Pop. 217,436
• Electronic products, plastic products, toys, metal products.

Qishi Town – 企石镇

• Pop. 121,693
• Artificial flowers, lighting, metal products

Hengli Town – 横沥镇

• Pop. 204,830
• Mould, electronic products

Qiaotou Town – 桥头镇

• Pop. 166,774
• Electronic products, rubber products, mechanical products

Xiegang Town – 谢岗镇

• Pop. 99,387
• Electronic products, metal products, toys

Dongkeng Town – 东坑镇

• Pop. 138,819
• Electronic products, rubber products, garments

Dalang Town – 大朗镇

• Pop. 310,889
• Woolen products

Huangjiang Town – 黄江镇

• Pop. 231,399
• Electronic products, rubber products, metal products

Qingxi Town – 清溪镇

• Pop. 312,639
• Computer & Accessories

Tangxia Town – 塘厦镇

• Pop. 482,067
• Electronic devices, home appliances, Precision machinery

Dalingshan Town – 大岭山镇

• Pop. 279,414
• Furniture, electronic products, printing

Shatian Town – 沙田镇

• Pop. 177,482
• Electronic products, plastic products, metal products

Daojiao Town – 道滘镇

• Pop. 143,107
• Electronic products, food products, metal products

Hongmei Town – 洪梅镇

• Pop. 58,114
• Paper-made products, glass products, textile, leather products

Machong Town – 麻涌镇

• Pop. 118,062
• Paper-made products, textile & garments, food products

Wangniudun Town –  望牛墩镇

• Pop. 84,786
• Textiles, electronic products, metal products

Zhongtang Town- 中堂镇

• Pop. 139,563
• Paper-made products
• (Close to Guangzhou.)