Staff members test a fishing rod at an outdoor products company in Linxiang on July 1, 2025. CHEN SIHAN/XINHUA
The brightly painted fishing floats that made Hunan province's Linxiang famous are no longer the only products rolling out of factories in this small city on the southern bank of the Yangtze River.
As China's largest fishing-float manufacturing hub looks beyond its traditional niche, local companies are expanding into lure fishing tackle, outdoor recreation and tourism, betting that a growing appetite for outdoor lifestyles can create new avenues for growth.
The shift reflects a broader evolution underway in Linxiang, where an industrial cluster built around a simple fishing accessory is increasingly branching into higher-value products and consumer experiences.
"Fishing floats remain our foundation, but the industry is no longer limited to floats," said Li Bin, general manager of Hunan Ruiqi Outdoor Products Co Ltd.
