Xiaolan Town

Xiaolan () is a town situated at the northwest periphery of the city of Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China.

The population of Xiaolan is approximately 333,000, of which 182,000 are registered hukou residents. The town spans an area of .

History

According to some historical imperial records, a concubine of emperor Song Duzong of the Southern Song Dynasty, eloped from the palace to pursue her true love. The concubine fled south until she finally arrived in Xiaolan, where she was able to lose the imperial guards who were in pursuit of her. When she arrived in Xiaolan, the concubine and her helpers were so attracted to the area's landscape, which was scattered with yellow chrysanthemum flowers, that they decided to take up residence there.

In June 2010, a strike broke out at a Honda Lock plant in Xiaolan, with workers demanded a wage increase from 930 RMB per month to 1,600 RMB per month. Reuters reported that striking workers were intimidated by police forces, and published an image which appeared to depict riot police being deployed near the factory on June 11. In response, the plant's managers began hiring scabs in response to the strike, and offered monthly pay increases of 200 RMB. By July 2010, many of the plant's striking workers returned for such pay rise, while others quit in search of work elsewhere.

Administrative divisions

As of 2020, Xiaolan is divided into 15 residential communities.

* Shakou Community ()
* Xinshi Community ()
* Dongqu Community ()
* Jixi Community ()
* Beiqu Community ()
* Zhuyuan Community ()
* Jidong First Community ()
* Jidong Second Community ()
* Shengfeng Community ()
* Baofeng Community ()
* Jiuzhouji Community ()
* Yongning Community ()
* Xiqu Community ()
* Liexi First Community ()
* Lianfeng Community ()

Economy

Xiaolan is home to over 40,000 individual enterprises, of which, over 14,000 are manufacturing enterprises. Over 99% of the firms in Xiaolan are privately-owned. Major brands headquartered in Xiaolan include Vatti, , Chant Group (), and Forest Lighting (). The city is a cluster for a number of industries, including hardware, underwear manufacturing, audio devices, locks, and lighting.

Primary sector

Agriculture is the main industry in the primary sector found in Xiaolan Town. The town is well-known for its Chrysanthemum plants, and is often called “Chrysanthemum City” (), according to the town's government.

From October to November every year, Xiaolan hosts a chrysanthemum festival along its major streets and parks. The show features about 100,000 pots of over a thousand varieties. Every 60 years, a grand chrysanthemum exhibition will be held in Xiaolan.

Secondary sector

Xiaolan is dubbed “Lock City of the South” as well as “Electronic Acoustic Industrial Base” in China. The two industries are the pillar industries of Xiaolan.

Xiaolan controls 23% of the national market share. Indeed, there are production lines of such famous brands as Vantage gas stoves, Guli locks and St. Allen nail clippers in Xiaolan.

Locks

Over 30% of manufacturing enterprises in Xiaolan are engaged in locks and hardware production. Such production accounted for nearly 50% of the total industrial outputs of Xiaolan and employed more than 30,000 people in 2002. Xiaolan's success in this sector earned it a certification as a critical hardware industrial base by China National Hardware Association in 2002.

Audio devices

Meanwhile, a growth in the sector of electronic acoustics, which has taken place in recent years, has made Xiaolan the first "Electronic Acoustics Industrial Base" in China. Between 2000 and 2002, over a hundred enterprises started business in Xiaolan. Both local and foreign enterprises which specialize in production of domestic stereos, DVDs, laser heads, high-tech digital audio equipment, loudspeakers, circuit boards and aluminium panels are clustered in this small town. Production bases of such foreign brands as ADS and Boston operate in Xiaolan while Philips, Toshiba, JBL, Onkyo and Jamo also run their OEM production there. In 2002, the industrial outputs of this sector reached RMB 4.6 billion, accounting for almost one third of the town's industrial output.

Lighting

The town has a sizable lighting industry, specifically in the production of LED lights. This industry accounts for over ¥10 billion in value to the local economy. Major LED brands with a presence in Xiaolan include Forest Lighting (), Everlight Electronics, Honbro Technologies (), Poso Lighting (), and Guangyang Appliances ().

Tertiary sector

Xiaolan has 19 banks and about 100 financial institutions as a whole.

Research and development

To improve research and development for local firms, a technology development centre specializing in the production of locks and hardware was set up in February 2003, and post-doctoral work stations and partnerships with universities have also been established to aid the town's hardware industry. An enterprise-based technology development centre with investment from a US-based acoustics stereo enterprise, AVlight was also established in Xiaolan Industrial Zone in 2002.

Education

Xiaolan is home to 45 kindergartens, 15 public primary schools, 5 secondary schools, and 10 private schools.

Healthcare

The Xiaolan People's Hospital (), and the Chen Xinghai Hospital () are both located in the town. 98.85% of Xiaolan's population is insured.

Culture

Many residents in Xiaolan cultivate chrysanthemums. On occasion, they provide chrysanthemum-themed banquets. They also create a number of chrysanthemum-themed poems and drawings.

Sports

The town has more than 70 public sports facilities, and 21 gymnasiums.

The Xiaolan Integrated Sports Centre was established in 1994, and has hosted a number of national and international ping-pong tournaments since then.

Historical attractions

* , a bridge built in 1368
* Jihou Temple (), a temple built during the reign of the Wanli Emperor (1572-1620)
* Yinxiu Temple (), a temple built during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1661-1722)
* Shuangmei Mansion (), a mansion built during the 1940s

Transportation

The town's railway station, Xiaolan railway station is situated on the Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway.

Gallery

image:Man on Bike in Xiaolan Town.jpg, Man on Bike
image:Schoolgirls in Xiaolan.JPG, Schoolgirls on Bikes
image:Scooter Rider in Xiaolan.JPG, Scooter Rider on Mobile

See also

* Xiaolan railway station

References

{{Zhongshan

Zhongshan
Towns in Guangdong