In northeast China, a tiny coastal city has quietly emerged as a global giant in the swimwear industry. Xingcheng, with a population of less than 500,000 in Liaoning Province, produces an astonishing 170 million pieces of swimwear every year. One of every four swimwear items sold worldwide is made in Xingcheng.

So far, Xingcheng’s swimwear industry has acquired seven overseas research and development companies and established 17 of its planned 33 overseas warehouses in key markets like the United States, Germany and Australia. Its products are exported to over 140 countries and regions, including Russia, the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Currently, the swimwear industry in Xingcheng is showing a clear trend toward intelligent transformation. Advanced equipment such as automatic fabric spreaders, automatic cutting machines, and automatic printing machines are widely used. AI is also set to propel the swimwear industry in Xingcheng towards a more intelligent and personalized direction.

Although Xingcheng is known for its swimwear production, the city has yet to host a large-scale swimming competition. “Our next step could be to organize more contests and exhibitions to achieve a deep integration of sports, culture and tourism,” said Zhang Dongyuan, president of the Xingcheng Swimwear Industry Association.