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| Cluster Name | Danyang – China’s Eyewear & Optical Lens Cluster (Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) |
| History | 1980s: eyewear trade took shape from small workshops and roadside markets; 2000s–2010s: rapid cluster expansion and international trade growth; 2021: Mingyue Optical listed as the first domestic listed lens brand |
| Manufacturers | 1,600+ eyewear manufacturers and trading enterprises; 600+ production factories; 94 above-scale enterprises; leading firms include Wanxin Optical, Mingyue Optical, Haichang Contact Lens, Hongchen Optical, Shiyue Optical and Taojing |
| Employment | 50,000+ workers across lens production, frame manufacturing, electroplating, assembly, testing, wholesale and e-commerce |
| Annual Output | Resin lens output nearly 400 million pairs a year; 2025 above-scale enterprise output 10.6 billion RMB; China (Danyang) International Eyewear City annual transactions near 7 billion RMB |
| National Output Share | China’s largest optical lens manufacturing base; resin lens output accounts for the majority of China’s lens capacity; largest professional eyewear wholesale market in China |
| Export Ratio | Products exported worldwide; local firms regularly exhibit at Milan and Paris eyewear fairs; cross-border e-commerce growing rapidly |
| Core Products | Resin lenses, PC lenses, polarized lenses, contact lenses, optical frames, finished eyewear, cases and cleaning cloths |
| Service | OEM/ODM with refractive index, coating and packaging customization; functional lens development (blue-light blocking, photochromic, polarized, progressive); national-level testing and certification; one-stop wholesale market; cross-border e-commerce channels |
Danyang in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, lies in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta and is China’s core eyewear production hub and the country’s largest manufacturing base for optical lenses. Starting from small roadside markets and family workshops decades ago, it has evolved into a full industrial ecosystem covering lenses, frames, electroplating, components, packaging, wholesale and cross-border e-commerce. It is a key sourcing destination for global optical brands, eyewear retail chains and e-commerce sellers looking for lenses and finished eyewear.
The cluster is home to more than 1,600 eyewear manufacturers and trading enterprises, including over 600 production factories and 94 above-scale enterprises, employing more than 50,000 people. Its leading product, resin lenses, reaches an annual output of nearly 400 million pairs, accounting for the majority of China’s lens capacity. The product range also covers glass lenses, PC lenses, contact lenses, frames, cases and cleaning cloths. China (Danyang) International Eyewear City is the largest professional eyewear wholesale market in China, with annual transaction value of nearly 7 billion RMB; buyers can source raw materials, components and finished glasses all in one place.
A national-level quality testing and technical service platform forms one of Danyang’s core strengths. The National Center for Quality Supervision and Inspection of Eyewear Products is based here, with full testing capability for eyewear products. It participates in drafting national and industry eyewear standards and helps lift craftsmanship and quality control across the whole cluster. The public industrial service platform works with manufacturers to co-develop new materials and processes, driving upgrading from basic lenses to high-value functional products such as blue-light blocking, photochromic, polarized and progressive lenses.
A strong lineup of leading enterprises fuels continuous industrial upgrading. Wanxin Optical is one of China’s largest resin lens makers and plays a key role in setting national standards. Mingyue Optical, a leading domestic lens brand, is a publicly listed company. Haichang Contact Lens ranks among the world’s top five contact lens manufacturers. Other key players including Hongchen Optical, Shiyue Optical and Taojing hold strong positions in premium lens manufacturing and eyewear e-commerce. Most manufacturers increase R&D investment year by year, shifting from pure OEM to own-brand and technology-driven development.
Brand building and overseas expansion advance side by side. Local manufacturers regularly attend international eyewear fairs in Milan and Paris, steadily growing their global market share. Leading enterprises invest heavily in own-brand promotion through endorsements, channel sponsorships and multi-channel marketing, raising brand recognition at home and abroad; the collective “Danyang Eyewear” mark also gains growing influence. Cross-border e-commerce is another fast-growing channel, delivering finished glasses and lenses directly to end customers worldwide.
For international buyers, Danyang’s greatest value lies in its complete lens supply chain and mature testing infrastructure. Buyers can source resin lenses, PC lenses, polarized lenses, contact lenses and optical frames here, with OEM/ODM support for different refractive indexes, coatings and packaging options. Backed by the national testing center, products meet consistent compliance standards. The cluster handles both large-volume steady orders and custom development of premium functional lenses for brands. Sourcing tips: specify refractive index, coating type, functional requirements (blue-light blocking, photochromic, polarized, progressive) and packaging; audit whether lens substrates, coating lines and testing capabilities are in-house; require transmittance, abrasion and adhesion test reports for functional lenses; sample before discussing volume and annual frameworks for brand ODM orders; and write testing standards, lead times and after-sales spare parts into contracts.
