Thursday, March 27, 2025
China’s Yizhou District is transforming silk production with cutting-edge technology, driving economic growth and positioning itself as a global industry leader.
In the Yizhou District of Hechi City, located in the southern part of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the integration of modern technology with sericulture and silk production is paving the way for high-quality industrial growth in the region.
The first production line of patterned full-silk Zhuang brocade, an indigenous fabric known for its durability, beauty, intricate designs, and creative craftsmanship, is now operational in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Source: Integrated Media Center of Yizhou District)
Yizhou stands as one of China’s largest silk cocoon production hubs, with over 26,400 hectares of lush mulberry fields, yielding an impressive annual production of 109,000 tonnes of silk cocoons.
The local sericulture industry generates approximately 5.6 billion yuan in revenue annually, and for 19 consecutive years, it has led the nation in fresh cocoon output, playing a crucial role in the district’s industrial development.
In the district’s silk reeling workshops, automation is prevalent, with modern equipment replacing traditional handcrafting methods. This shift has significantly boosted productivity and silk quality, especially after the application of 64 technological patents and nearly 70 advanced devices.
For example, Yizhou District has developed machines capable of automatically placing mature silkworms on cocooning tools and extracting cocoons, with an advanced application rate of techniques like small silkworm co-breeding and fresh cocoon reeling, positioning the district at the forefront of innovation in the sector.
This transformation is closely tied to the thriving sci-tech advancements and innovation efforts supported by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Aiming to create a mulberry cocoon and silk industry cluster with an annual output value of 100 billion yuan, Yizhou has strengthened the full industrial chain and introduced cutting-edge technologies from both domestic and international sources, ensuring that the local silk industry develops in a smart, sustainable, and high-end direction.
With high-speed looms running at full capacity, the district’s use of computer numerical control (CNC) machines for silk weaving has filled the gap in producing patterned full-silk Zhuang brocade and contributed to the recognition of Yizhou’s premium raw silk as a key material for luxury global brands.
In addition to silk production, the district has also tapped into the potential of sericulture by-products, such as mulberry leaves, branches, and silkworm excrement, which are now widely used in food, medicine, animal feed, and organic fertilizers, forming a circular economy within the region.
Moreover, Yizhou District has developed several silk culture tourism routes that blend the mulberry cocoon and silk industry with ecological tourism, providing a fresh economic boost to the area.
Looking ahead, the district is set to continue fostering sci-tech innovation and expanding the local silk industry, aiming to write a new chapter in its economic development.
