Zheng’an in China’s southwestern Guizhou province has emerged as a major global guitar manufacturing hub, producing about one in every seven guitars sold worldwide.
The town had virtually no guitar-making industry a decade ago, but rapid industrial development has transformed it into one of China’s specialised manufacturing centres.
Zheng’an’s rise highlights the impact of China’s industrial strategy, with local and central government investment helping the town capitalise on its economic and geographic advantages.
For years, many working-age residents left Zheng’an for factory jobs in Guangdong, one of southern China’s major manufacturing hubs. Among them was Zheng Chuanjiu, who later established his own guitar-making business in the provincial capital, Guangzhou.
“The company was doing pretty well at that time and most of our staff in Guangzhou were also our fellow villagers from Zheng’an,” said Zheng, founder of Shenqu Guitar.
In 2012, local authorities launched an initiative known as “return the phoenix to the nest” to encourage skilled migrant workers to return to Zheng’an and establish businesses.
“The county officials reached out to us. They wanted us to come back and develop the industry,” Zheng said.
Shenqu Guitar subsequently became the first guitar manufacturer to establish operations in Zheng’an’s newly developed economic zone, helping lay the foundation for the town’s rapidly expanding guitar industry.
