'Hometown of glasses' eyes smart transition

China's "hometown of glasses" — Yujiang district in Yingtan, Jiangxi province — is upgrading its industrial infrastructure to consolidate its status as one of the five main domestic hubs for eyeglasses.

With a history of selling eyewear for 200 years, Yujiang is focusing its efforts on artificial intelligence innovation and brand building.

As of end-2024, Yujiang's 2.6 square-kilometer eyeglasses industrial zone was home to about 260 companies, with their annual main business income reaching 10.8 billion yuan ($1.5 billion).

Zhu Mingming, founder and CEO of Rokid, a Hangzhou, Zhejiang province-based producer of AI-powered eyewear, is one such participant in the eyewear industry transformation of Yujiang.

Rokid opened its second global flagship store in the industrial zone in December 2023 to further tap the region's high-tech development with smart augmented-reality solutions.

The company teamed up with Lens Technology and rolled out Rokid Glasses in June, supported by AI and AR technologies. Weighing just 49 grams, the glasses feature an AR display and are integrated with AI large models, with functions such as real-time translation, object recognition, navigation, message notifications and voiceprint payment.

"The product has received 300,000 online orders," said Zhu, adding that the company will set up a production base in the district within two years.

"The next three years are a crucial period for breakthroughs in the smart glasses sector. Convincing mass consumers to embrace this innovative wearable technology will be a challenging task," said Zhu.

According to International Data Corp, global smart glasses shipments reached 1.48 million units in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year growth of 82.3 percent. Shipments of smart glasses in China soared 116.1 percent to 494,000 units during the same period.

Yujiang is also leveraging its 200-year heritage in the sector to enhance brand building, spur product competitiveness and industrial advancement.

Jiangxi Strong Optical Co Ltd, a company that set up base in Yingtan in 2017, is a local pioneer in brand building. It is not only an original equipment manufacturer, but also a branded manufacturer since 2021.

"Though it is challenging to break through in the sector with a premium brand, we have to build one of our own," said Li Shaoqiang, the company's general manager.

In the past, 60 percent of the company's sales came from markets such as Europe and the United States, solidifying its position as a major player in optical manufacturing. However, trade woes in recent years have prompted a strategic shift away from these two regions to a focus on emerging markets, where sales have grown steadily.

Yujiang boasts several advantages in developing eyewear businesses, including a well-developed industry chain, abundant talent supply and a business-friendly environment. To streamline operations, the local government has assigned an administrative process coordinator to expedite approvals and support efficiency.

"Next, Yujiang will accelerate upgrading of its eyewear sector from traditional manufacturing to a more modernized sector featuring design, research and development as well as sales and industrial services," said Li Zhiwen, director of the eyewear industry development service center of the district.