Today, we would like to introduce the city of Danyang, located in the southern region of Jiangsu Province. Danyang holds a pivotal role in the global spectacle lens market. As of 2024, the city is set to produce 400 million pairs of lenses annually, representing 70% of China’s total output and 50% of the global supply. With annual manufacturing sales reaching 12 billion yuan (~1.64 billion USD ), Danyang stands as a key player in the optical industry.
In the 1960s, Danyang began its journey into the eyewear industry by setting up small-scale glasses processing factories. These early ventures were supported by educated youth (知青) from cities like Suzhou and Shanghai. As China placed greater emphasis on education and television became a household staple, the number of people with myopia surged, driving up the demand for eyeglasses. However, at the time, purchasing a pair of glasses was an expensive luxury.
By the 1980s, policy reforms encouraging private enterprise paved the way for rapid industry expansion. Skilled technicians and sales professionals left state-owned companies to start their own businesses. Small, workshop-style eyewear shops began to pop up across Danyang, offering affordable yet high-quality glasses to wholesalers from all over China. Recognizing this growing market, the Danyang government designated areas around the train station and Shuangmiao district as the site for China’s first dedicated eyewear markets: Huayang Glasses Market and Yunyang Glasses Market, both established in 1986.
Just one year later, in 1987, Danyang was home to over 400 optical factories, producing an impressive 6.5 million pairs of glasses annually. This explosive growth cemented Danyang’s position as a key economic pillar of the region.
After 1992, an influx of international eyewear brands entered the Chinese market, intensifying competition in the domestic lens industry. In response, Danyang’s manufacturers embarked on a transformative journey, introducing foreign capital, advanced technology, and expert talent. They established research and development (R&D) centers, focusing on cutting-edge innovations such as resin lenses. By the 1990s, Danyang’s eyewear industry had flourished, with annual transaction volumes exceeding 1 billion yuan, making it the largest wholesale eyewear market in China.
While Danyang dominated the global eyewear market in terms of production volume and affordability, for years, the industry remained stuck at the lower end of the value chain. As Zhang Jinghao, head of Jiangsu Zhongjing Industrial Technology Co., noted:
“Danyang produces some of the best lenses, but they don’t fetch good prices. The same production line, when used by foreign companies for OEM manufacturing, can sell lenses at multiple times our price.”
Determined to break free from this low-margin model, Danyang’s optical industry pursued technological innovation and product customization. The city developed domestically-produced optometry instruments, achieving precise prescriptions with five-degree step differences. Using data-driven algorithms, manufacturers could now remotely generate personalized lens surfaces, while smart manufacturing techniques created custom lenses tailored to each individual’s eye parameters and visual habits. This shift, akin to bespoke tailoring in fashion, significantly improved lens accuracy, comfort, and visual clarity.
One of Danyang’s greatest achievements has been its advancements in lens materials. Local companies developed high-refractive index lenses and photochromic lenses, securing their own intellectual property rights. These innovations improved light transmission and clarity, while significantly reducing lens weight and thickness.
Initially, Danyang was known for producing glass lenses, but resin lenses soon became the industry standard due to their lighter weight and superior optical properties. However, the raw materials for high-end resin lenses were controlled by foreign companies, making domestic production costly. To address this, Mingyue Lens, in collaboration with Nanjing University of Technology, embarked on an ambitious R&D initiative. Their efforts paid off in 2007, when they successfully developed breakthrough materials such as 1.71 series, PMC Super Bright, and KR Super Tough. These innovations led to large-scale production and drastically lowered resin lens costs to just one-third of the price of imported materials. Today, Danyang-based companies like Wanxin and Mingyue continue to lead the way in resin lens development.
Danyang’s eyewear industry has not only embraced technological advancements but has also fully integrated automation into its production lines. In Wanxin Optical’s modern factory, three fully automated production lines and eleven precision grinding machines work seamlessly. On the conveyor belt, raw resin lens blanks undergo a rapid transformation—within just five minutes, they are shaped, polished, and ready to be worn.
Beyond functionality, Danyang’s eyewear brands are also making strides in fashion and design. Local companies have introduced a range of stylish frames that align with modern aesthetic trends, ensuring that Danyang’s eyewear is not just high-quality but also fashionable.
Danyang has evolved from a small-scale producer into a global eyewear powerhouse, combining mass production efficiency with cutting-edge innovation. By embracing R&D, automation, and product customization, the city has successfully moved up the value chain, positioning itself as a leader in the global eyewear market.
Stay tuned for our next feature, where we’ll take you to Guzhen, the lighting capital of China! We look forward to sharing more fascinating insights about China’s industrial hubs with you.
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