The heyday of China's legendary electronics market in Huaqiangbei
may be long gone, but at least one type of gear is still thriving there: Spy cameras.
Sales of spy cameras are rampant at Shenzhen’s gadget paradise, Huaqiangbei, according to a
report by state broadcaster CCTV. The report, secretly filmed (ironically) by CCTV reporters, found vendors selling secret cameras disguised as pens, lighters and alarm clocks, among a number of other things. This is in spite of the fact that it's
illegal in China to sell “espionage equipment” that can be used for secretly monitoring and photographing people.