The town of Zheng’an in China’s southwestern Guizhou province has rapidly transformed into a global hub for guitar manufacturing, now accounting for roughly one in every seven guitars sold worldwide. This dramatic development took place over the past decade, evolving from an area with virtually no guitar-making industry to what local officials proudly call the “Capital of Guitars, City of Music.”
Zheng’an’s rise exemplifies a broader pattern in China, where specialized manufacturing towns thrive due to a combination of targeted government investment and leveraging of local advantages. Historically, many of Zheng’an’s working-age residents sought employment outside the province, particularly in Guangdong’s manufacturing centers. One such individual was Zheng Chuanjiu, a native who began a guitar business in Guangzhou before returning home following an initiative launched in 2012 by local authorities called “return the phoenix to the nest.” This program was designed to attract skilled migrants back to the county to spur economic development through entrepreneurship.
Zheng Chuanjiu’s company, Shenqu Guitar, was the first to establish a manufacturing base in Zheng’an’s newly created economic zone. His success encouraged others from the community to follow suit. Today, factories like Shenqu display rows of finished guitars ready for shipment, paired with slogans emphasizing the appeal of working locally. “Why go far away to work when home is the best place?” reads one prominent banner inside a manufacturing facility visited in July.
Local government support has played a significant role, offering financial incentives including three years of tax relief and free rent for up to a decade to attract companies. This has helped spur the emergence of 87 local guitar brands within the industrial cluster.
Beyond government backing, natural factors bolster Zheng’an’s appeal for guitar production. Luthier Zhang Weiyi, who moved his craft business from Guangzhou in 2019, highlighted the region’s favorable climate as ideal for creating high-quality guitars. While Zhang produces a relatively small number—about 150 handcrafted instruments annually—his long-standing clientele reflects the artisanal dimension within the broader industrial landscape.
On a larger scale, the town’s manufacturers collectively produce an estimated 2.5 million guitars each year, underscoring Zheng’an’s significant contribution to the global music instrument market. This blend of local craftsmanship, strategic government initiatives, and natural advantages has propelled the town’s swift industrial expansion and elevated its status on the world stage.