Small town in Hebei forges big shovel base

Q: How did the steel shovel industry in Luannan develop from scratch?

Fu Changyi: It originated in Qizhuangzi village of Songdaokou town in Luannan county. Residents there learned to forge iron and made all kinds of farm tools in the early 20th century.

Starting in the 1940s, some villagers began making iron pots and other cooking tools, as well as iron shovels. In the 1950s, some started to make steel shovels by imitating a famous domestic brand at that time.

Since then, more villagers has been involved in the industry.

In the 1990s, there were more than 1,000 factories making steel shovels in the town. After 2000, the local government established an industrial park specializing in steel shovels.