宜兴, often referred to as the “China Ceramic Capital,” boasts unique geographical advantages, a rich cultural heritage, and leading industries. As a result, this city is increasingly attracting entrepreneurs and innovators from both domestic and international backgrounds.
During the 2024 China Ceramic Capital (Yixing) Autumn Economic and Trade Fair held on October 18th, Yixing’s mayor, Hu Xiaojian, remarked that this annual fair serves as an important window for the city’s global outreach. He noted, “Since its inception in 1993, we have hosted 31 consecutive Autumn Fairs. Over the past 31 years, more than 2,000 foreign enterprises have invested in Yixing, with actual foreign investment exceeding $10 billion. Our total import and export volume has increased fortyfold, with around 86% of foreign enterprises, 90% of foreign investments, and 30% of foreign trade stemming from this fair.”
Geographically, Yixing is bordered by Taihu Lake to the east, with Changxing County in Zhejiang Province to the south and Guangde City in Anhui Province to the west, often dubbed the “Central Garden” connecting the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou. The city is celebrated for its historical anecdotes, such as the timeless stories of bamboo and water exchange, and it’s known as a hub of culture and education, earning accolades as a national historical and cultural city.
In recent years, Yixing has leveraged its status as one of China’s top ten counties by establishing a high-standard Ceramic Capital Technology New City. This initiative has fostered the growth of technology-driven enterprises, keeping Yixing at the forefront of both provincial and municipal development. The city has seen double-digit growth in high-tech industries for three consecutive years, while cementing its leadership in industries such as wire and cable, energy conservation, and ceramics. Emerging clusters in new energy, integrated circuits, and life sciences are also gaining traction, with future industries such as low-altitude economy, synthetic biology, hydrogen energy, and energy storage racing ahead on new fronts.
Hu Xiaojian highlighted that the forthcoming opening of the Yiyu Expressway and the efficient progression of the Xiyi S2 Line, alongside enhanced connections through the Yantong Railway and Hu-Su-Lake High-Speed Railway, will enable Yixing to integrate into a one-hour urban circle surrounding Shanghai. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are also becoming key areas for Yixing’s openness and collaboration. New initiatives like the “Double Linkage and Double Promotion” program and the “Cross-Border E-Commerce + Industrial Belt” model are helping Yixing connect faster with the world.
A growing number of entrepreneurs and innovators are finding Yixing appealing for investment, a trend fueled by the city’s distinct charm and favorable development environment, as well as the networking opportunities created by the Autumn Fair.
Moreover, this annual fair serves as a crucial driver for Yixing’s innovation and transformation. In the past three years, based on the fair, over 20 innovation platforms have been established, nurturing close to 100 innovation talents from Wuxi and beyond. During this year’s opening ceremony, several strategic emerging industrial parks, such as Kangmei Industrial Park and CRRC Power Components Industrial Park, were inaugurated, along with research institutes focusing on cutting-edge technologies, exemplifying a wide array of high-quality projects aimed at innovation, health, and advanced manufacturing.
Hu Xiaojian described the Autumn Fair as “a grand feast of mutual benefit.” Over the past decade, it has helped cultivate nearly 100 enterprises recognized as “specialized, refined, and innovative” at the municipal level, and over 50 high-tech firms. He emphasized, “Each Autumn Fair is like a golden appointment that brings together opportunities, creating win-win situations that contribute to a harmonious economic symphony.”
To further enhance its reputation as a welcoming hub, Yixing plans to strengthen its innovation platform that spans over 3 million square meters, support 50 specialized industrial parks, and manage an industrial fund of nearly 60 billion RMB. This initiative aims to foster a more stable administrative environment, a supportive policy framework, a reliable market atmosphere, and a secure legal environment for investors.
