Industry heritage at heart of city's global exports boom

The brightly painted fishing floats that made Hunan province's Linxiang famous are no longer the only products rolling out of factories in this small city on the southern bank of the Yangtze River.

As China's largest fishing-float manufacturing hub looks beyond its traditional niche, local companies are expanding into lure fishing tackle, outdoor recreation and tourism, betting that a growing appetite for outdoor lifestyles can create new avenues for growth.

The shift reflects a broader evolution underway in Linxiang, where an industrial cluster built around a simple fishing accessory is increasingly branching into higher-value products and consumer experiences.

"Fishing floats remain our foundation, but the industry is no longer limited to floats," said Li Bin, general manager of Hunan Ruiqi Outdoor Products Co Ltd.

"Many supporting industries have gradually gathered here, including fishing rods, hooks, fishing lines and lures."

While Linxiang built its reputation on freshwater fishing floats, lure fishing has emerged as one of the industry's fastest-growing segments.

Unlike traditional float fishing, lure fishing relies on artificial bait designed to mimic the movement of prey fish. The technique has gained popularity among younger anglers worldwide and has become a major category in overseas markets.

Ruiqi, one of Linxiang's growing exporters, ships lure products to customers across Europe, Southeast Asia and North America.

Li said the company's competitive advantage comes from the manufacturing ecosystem that has developed around Linxiang's float industry over the past three decades.

"From raw materials and precision processing to packaging and logistics, almost every step can be completed locally," he said. "That allows us to respond faster and keep costs under control."

The company has also adopted 3D-printing technologies to accelerate product development and customize designs for overseas buyers.

According to Li, the technology has significantly shortened development cycles and improved flexibility for small-batch orders, a growing requirement among international customers.

Industry experts often describe industrial clusters as networks where suppliers, manufacturers and service providers reinforce one another.

Linxiang's fishing-tackle sector offers a textbook example.

Local authorities say the city now hosts more than 3,100 market entities linked to fishing gear production and services, employing roughly 60,000 people.

The ecosystem stretches beyond manufacturing to include packaging, logistics, e-commerce, mold production and product testing.

That concentration has helped local companies diversify into new product categories without building entirely new supply chains.

"Many of the skills developed in float production can be applied to other fishing products," Li said.

"Precision manufacturing, painting techniques and quality control systems can all be shared across categories."

The result is a gradual expansion from a single-product cluster into a broader fishing-equipment industry.

The industry's ambitions increasingly extend beyond China.

Local authorities say fishing-tackle products from Linxiang are now sold in more than 30 countries and regions.

Li said overseas markets present significant opportunities but also new challenges.

Environmental regulations, product certification requirements and changing trade rules are raising compliance costs, particularly for smaller manufacturers.

"Competition is no longer simply about price," he said. "Companies need stronger technology, more reliable quality control and a better understanding of local market requirements."

The industry's expansion is also reshaping the local economy beyond factory floors.

In Jiangnan township on the outskirts of Linxiang, a restored lake has been turned into a destination for lure fishing competitions, camping and outdoor recreation.

The project grew out of the city's efforts to build tourism around its fishing culture.

"We started seeing more anglers arriving with recreational vehicles during lure-fishing events," said Yuan Gang, an official involved in local economic development and the operation of a lakeside camping site.

"That convinced us there was demand for a broader outdoor experience."

The lakeside development now combines fishing activities with camping facilities, local food offerings and rural tourism attractions.

Visitors can spend the day fishing, picking seasonal produce from nearby farms and participating in outdoor activities before staying overnight at the campsite.

Local officials hope the model will extend visitor stays and generate additional income for nearby villages.

Industry reports show growing participation among younger consumers, particularly those seeking social and experience-driven leisure activities.

For Linxiang, that trend offers an opportunity to transform a manufacturing success story into a broader outdoor-economy ecosystem.

A city once known primarily for producing fishing floats is now trying to capture value across the entire chain — from factory production and exports to competitions, tourism and lifestyle consumption.

"The float industry gave us our starting point," Yuan said. "What we're building now is a much larger ecosystem around it."