A rendering of China Longquan Sword Modern Industrial Park. [Photo/Tide News]

The sword industry of Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui, Zhejiang province, a signature local sector, is undergoing a major transformation, as businesses sign up to move into the China Longquan Sword Modern Industrial Park.

Wang Yiqi, head of a local sword sheath processing firm, signed a factory purchase agreement soon after inspecting the site, impressed by the support facilities and preferential policies. His company, once a small workshop, will now shift to standardized, clustered production.

The city currently hosts over 5,600 sword business entities and employs about 12,000 people, but the sector has long been fragmented, with most workshops scattered and unable to scale up or standardize production.

A lack of centralized exhibition and sales platforms hinders access to younger consumers and overseas markets, making urgent upgrades necessary.

To address these challenges, a tailored support system has been put in place. Businesses are categorized into three groups — those to be upgraded, guided into clusters, or regulated for compliance — and one-on-one assistance is provided for workshops with safety or environmental shortcomings.

Regular on-site services help resolve recruitment, financing, and market access issues. A comprehensive guidebook has been issued to streamline procedures, and the park offers comprehensive support for resident enterprises.

The park features small standard workshops of 300 to 400 square meters, fitting small and medium-sized merchants. The move is not a simple relocation but a full-chain upgrade, enabling resource sharing and complementary advantages.

Looking ahead, Longquan will further modernize the sword industry through greater standardization, digitalization and industrial clustering, while preserving the vitality of its centuries-old craft.