Tianjin village the 'saxophone village' of China

The Central Sidangkou Village, a village in Tianjin not well-known to the rest of the world, is renowned worldwide for its mass production of saxophones.

The production of saxophones in this village with a population of 5,000 now accounts for half of the world's total production and its total industrial value hit 400 million yuan ($57.1 million), according to local authorities.

Its total production of saxophones and other Western-style musical instruments reaches up to 500,000 units each year.

The mass production of saxophones has, for 40 years, covers the whole industrial chain — including parts manufacturing, electroplating, melding, polishing and assembly — has not only driven local economic growth but also benefited e-commerce and logistics sectors in the neighboring villages.

In addition to saxophones, the village also produces other wind instruments such as clarinet, and horns.

Leading market producers, including Shengdi and Oves, have shifted their production to high-end markets instead of previous mass OEM businesses.

Their market production value is around 70-80 million yuan annually and high-end production accounts for 20 percent of the industrial total.

Wang Yuchun, president of Shengdi Co, a market leader of China's saxophone production, said: "Shengdi now has shifted 20 percent of its production to high-end market, and devoting greater effort to scouting for global leading music troupes."

Zhang Guomin, president of Tianjin Oves Musical Instrument Co Ltd — another market leader with annual sales of up to 70 million yuan — said the low-end market has an average profit of lower than 7 percent, while the high-end market saw profits of up to 30 to 40 percent.

"Now our company is targeting the cutting-edge market and bespoke products," he said.

"China's music instrument market is leaving the low-threshold competition, and it's hard for companies without competent technologies to sustain," he said.