Chinese guitar capital’s stairway to export heaven

The small town of Zheng’an, located in southwestern Guizhou Province, China, has become the world's leading exporter of guitars, producing one in seven of all instruments sold globally. Just a decade ago, the area had no guitar-making industry at all. However, through a combination of local and central government investment aimed at leveraging favourable conditions, the town has transformed into what locals refer to as the "Capital of Guitars, City of Music."

Zheng'an's working-age residents previously migrated to Guangdong, China's manufacturing hub, to seek employment in factories. One such migrant, Zheng Chuanjiu, eventually started his own guitar-making business in Guangzhou. In 2012, local authorities launched an initiative called "return the phoenix to the nest" to encourage skilled migrant workers to return home and start businesses. Zheng'an officials reached out to Zheng Chuanjiu, who became the first guitar manufacturer to settle in the town's new economic zone.

The town's natural advantages, including a climate perfect for guitar-making, have played a crucial role in its success. Master luthier Zhang Weiyi, who relocated his business from Guangzhou in 2019, finds the local climate ideal for his craft. He produces around 150 guitars per year, but the town as a whole manufactures 2.5 million guitars annually, fully living up to its nickname.

Zheng'an has attracted 87 homegrown guitar brands and has emerged as an export hub, sending $36 million worth of guitars to over 40 countries in 2025. The local government provides comprehensive financial, tax, and employment support packages, including three-year tax exemptions and 10 years of free rent. Additionally, streamlining export-rebate procedures and offering tax reductions and exemptions further bolster the town's competitive edge.

While Chinese state subsidies have faced criticism from the United States and Europe in recent years, Zhejiang University economist Dong Xuebing argues that pursuing specialized regional industries is vital to prevent population loss to big cities and boost development in previously neglected areas. The benefits extend beyond economic gains, as locals enjoy a "nice atmosphere" around the guitar industry, with music often filling the main square and children carrying guitar cases on their way to lessons.