Nestled in the heartland of the Yangtze River Delta, Danyang—a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province—is a charming southern town renowned for its eyewear. Here, tiny lenses are leveraging a massive industry worth hundreds of billions of yuan. Accelerating its upgrade from the world’s largest lens manufacturing base and Asia’s largest eyewear distribution center to a global powerhouse of visual optics innovation, Danyang stands as a vivid testament to the transformation from "Made in China" to "Created in China."
Step into Danyang, and the atmosphere of optics is ubiquitous. From the prominent " Danyang International Optical Center" sign greeting arrivals at the railway station exit, to the eyewear shops and factory workshops lining the streets, and the bustling crowds of buyers and shoppers, the entire city is enveloped in the vitality of the optical industry.
The data speaks volumes about Danyang's powerhouse status: the city aggregates over 1,600 eyewear manufacturers and supporting trade enterprises, employing more than 50,000 people across the entire supply chain. With an annual output of over 400 million lenses, Danyang accounts for 70% of China’s total production and half of the global market. Remarkably, one out of every two newly purchased lenses worldwide comes from Danyang, truly making it the "Eyewear Capital of the World." From standard single-vision and blue-light-blocking lenses to photochromic lenses, ultra-light frames, youth myopia management lenses, and smart eyewear, the product range here is exhaustive, the craftsmanship exquisite, and the global reach extensive.
One might naturally wonder: how did Danyang’s eyewear industry get its start? While one might expect factors like "a long-standing history," "local traditions," or "abundant natural resources," the actual story of Danyang's eyewear industry follows an entirely different script.
Danyang's eyewear history is relatively short, tracing its roots back to the 1960s. At that time, a group of apprentices from Danyang trained at state-owned eyewear factories in Shanghai and Suzhou. Upon returning, they helped establish township enterprises to produce glasses. This marked the inception of the local industry, which began taking shape by the 1970s.
With the advent of the Reform and Opening-up era, private entrepreneurship flourished, and spontaneous roadside eyewear stalls sprouted near the Danyang Railway Station, serving as the embryonic version of a wholesale market. Merchants from across the country flocked here to source goods for distribution nationwide. Recognizing the immense potential of the industry, the local government stepped in with supportive policies. In 1986, the Huayang Glasses Market—the country’s earliest professional market dedicated to eyewear trading—was established. From that moment on, the industry entered the fast lane.
Driven by this specialized market, both supply and demand boomed. Consequently, eyewear-related businesses mushroomed across Danyang, forging a complete industrial chain. Of course, no industry develops without setbacks, and Danyang was no exception. However, having successfully bridged the gap from "0" to "1," Danyang’s eyewear industry continuously innovated and pushed boundaries, ultimately achieving a monumental leap from "1" to "10." Today, it is well on its way from "10" to "100."
This is what I saw and heard during my time in Danyang. I believe that behind the journey of Danyang's eyewear industry—starting from scratch, growing from small to large, and evolving from weak to strong—the ultimate driving force is the people of Danyang: industrious, resilient, and endlessly innovative!
Post time: Jun-24-2026