Workers at a flax textile company in Muling City, Heilongjiang Province, are busy with production. Since October, Heilongjiang Hongdoushan Flax Textile Co., Ltd. in Muling has been operating at full capacity. The factory runs 24/7, with five production lines working non-stop and employees working in three shifts. Daily output includes four tons of hemp yarn shipped to markets in Europe and Asia, including Italy and South Korea. Orders are booked until May 31 next year.
Once a small border town in southeastern Heilongjiang with no flax industry, Muling has transformed itself over the past decade. Today, it hosts 17 flax industry chain enterprises, with a spinning capacity of 74,000 spindles—accounting for 10% of China’s total flax yarn production. Muling is now the largest single flax spinning hub in the country, earning the title of "China’s Flax Spinning Capital." This year, Muling’s flax textile projects were selected for China’s first batch of "Quality Certification Pilot Programs for Strengthening Enterprises, Chains, and Counties."
From zero to industry leader, Muling’s journey began with strategic foresight. Despite initial challenges—such as relying on external raw materials and markets—the city recognized flax’s potential in the green and low-carbon sector. In 2015, Muling Longmuyapin Flax Textile Co., Ltd. broke ground with a total investment of 52.5 million yuan, marking the city’s first foray into flax textiles.
Chen Weidong, general manager of Longmuyapin, recalls how Muling’s government support convinced him to invest. "Officials waited hours to greet me when I first visited, and their commitment never wavered over the years," he said. The city adopted a "business-led investment" model, leveraging early entrants to attract more companies, creating a cluster effect.
To support growth, Muling invested 1.68 billion yuan in industrial park infrastructure, dedicating two square kilometers to flax production. The city also established a dedicated office to oversee industry development, solving challenges like water supply for flax processing.
Today, Muling boasts a complete industrial chain—from planting and processing to spinning, weaving, and finished products. Local firms like Hongsong Hemp Technology and Jintaiheng Flax Textile have broken foreign dependency by cultivating domestic hemp farms. Meanwhile, companies like Tianheng Flax Textile and Xin Dongmao Textile Technology specialize in high-value exports and digital production, respectively.
Digital transformation has been key. Xin Dongmao’s automated systems boosted daily output from 250 kg to 5 tons per shift, with defect rates dropping to 0.2%. "We aim to be fully digitized in three years," said Chairman Dong Yonggang.
Muling’s success stems from multi-faceted support: ready-to-use industrial parks, talent partnerships with universities, and quality certification systems that ensure traceability. The industry now contributes 2 billion yuan annually, accounting for 20% of Muling’s industrial output, while creating local jobs and setting a benchmark for regional economic revitalization.
With a focus on local sourcing, finished products, and scaling up, Muling proves that even without inherent advantages, targeted efforts can cultivate a nationally leading specialty industry.