In the heart of Jiangsu Province lies Danyang City, a place that might not be on your radar but is crucial to something you use every day: eyewear.
Welcome to Danyang, the world’s undisputed epicenter of ophthalmic lens production. With a population of less than a million, this city is home to over 1,600 eyewear businesses employing more than 50,000 people. They don’t just make glasses; they supply half of the world’s optical lenses and 75 percent of the Chinese mainland’s total output!
But Danyang isn’t just sitting back and basking in its success. The city is constantly innovating, ensuring that it stays ahead in the global market. In the first half of this year, Danyang’s eyewear companies reported an import-export volume of 2.5 billion yuan (about $350 million), up 2.8 percent from last year.
Even when faced with challenges like recent tariff hikes from the U.S., the city remains unfazed. “Some export-oriented firms have reached agreements with their overseas clients who have agreed to absorb the additional tariff costs,” said Yuan Hongjin, secretary-general of the Danyang Optical Chamber of Commerce. Others are exploring new markets or shifting focus toward domestic sales.
Companies are also turning their attention to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries, tapping into new opportunities. But what’s really setting Danyang apart is its mastery of core technologies.
Cai Xiaogu, founder of a tech-savvy eyewear company in Danyang, has developed pioneering lens technology that sidesteps foreign restrictions on raw materials and production processes. With a team mostly born after 1990, they’ve spent four years innovating everything from equipment manufacturing to production techniques. Their breakthroughs have already secured millions in orders from top optical firms worldwide.
“We’re setting up processing centers in Singapore and Japan,” Cai said. “Tariff hikes don’t really affect us. There’s huge global demand for high-end lens manufacturing, and we’re confident about expanding internationally.”
Another exciting development is the move into smart glasses. Companies that once only made lenses are now collaborating with electronics firms to create glasses that display navigation, offer real-time translation, and use artificial intelligence features. “Each pair needs to be super flat, extremely thin, and made with incredible precision,” said Guo Jingzhou, general manager of a smart glasses firm.
Their prototype has already captured the attention of young consumers globally, leading to substantial pre-orders. “The price per unit is three times higher than regular high-end glasses,” Guo said. “While we used to allocate 20 percent to research and development, this year we’ll be investing even more.”
Danyang’s story is one of resilience and innovation. By embracing new technologies and markets, this eyewear capital isn’t just keeping up with the times—it’s shaping the future of how we see the world.
