Wooden toys produced in Yunhe county of Lishui, Zhejiang province, are on display. [Photo/Tide News]

Yunhe county in Lishui, Zhejiang province, a leading wooden toy production and export base in China, accounting for 40 percent of the global market, is steering its industry toward intelligent transformation.

Faced with challenges such as homogenized competition, the county has implemented a three-year action plan to pioneer a development model integrating digital design, quality manufacturing, and proprietary brands.

Digital upgrades are making traditional manufacturing smarter. Companies like Zhejiang Jinma Crafts operate intelligent production lines, with self-developed brands sold in over 50 countries including Germany, France, and Italy.

The county collaborates with universities to develop an industrial digital platform, enabling major enterprises to achieve full digital transformation. This has reduced comprehensive operational costs by 10 percent and boosted efficiency by over 10 percent.

Efforts extend to building a complete industrial chain encompassing design, manufacturing, and cross-border e-commerce. Yunhe is developing an e-commerce industrial belt, launching international freight trains, and establishing global live-streaming bases. Over 10 proprietary brands have emerged, strengthening the industry's global footprint.

Talent development is emphasized through 12 platforms, with more than 2,000 professionals trained. The Yunhe Wooden Toy Fairy Tale Town has drawn 243 companies and 11 R&D institutes.

Collaborative research institutes are working with local companies to create interactive, educational products, significantly enhancing product value.

To sustain growth, Yunhe county is recruiting global high-level talent and has solved over 120 technical challenges through a government-led collaboration model, aiming to build a world-class center for intelligent creation.