Jiaxing (嘉兴)
The global solar panel and sweater capital — JinkoSolar (25% global market) is headquartered in Haining, and Tongxiang Puyuan produces 70% of China's sweaters.
Jiaxing, located between Shanghai and Hangzhou, punches above its weight in manufacturing. Haining is home to JinkoSolar, one of the world's largest solar panel manufacturers with approximately 25% global market share. Tongxiang Puyuan is China's largest sweater and knitwear manufacturing cluster, producing 70% of the country's sweaters. Xiuzhou Wangdian manufactures 80% of China's integrated ceiling systems. Pinghu is a major garment and luggage manufacturing center.
For hardware founders, Jiaxing is relevant for solar and photovoltaic products, knitwear and sweater manufacturing, and integrated ceiling/building materials. The city's position on the Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed rail line makes it one of the most accessible manufacturing destinations in the YRD.
Haining (海宁): Photovoltaic manufacturing — JinkoSolar HQ and major production base, 25% global solar panel market share. Also leather goods manufacturing: Haining China Leather City is one of China's largest leather product wholesale markets.
Tongxiang Puyuan (桐乡濮院): Sweater and knitwear cluster — 70% national market share. Thousands of factories producing sweaters, cardigans, and knitted garments. The supply chain from yarn to finished sweater is complete within the town.
Xiuzhou Wangdian (秀洲王店): Integrated ceiling cluster — 80% national market share. Specializes in suspended ceiling systems, bathroom ceilings, and integrated lighting-ceiling products for residential and commercial construction.
Pinghu (平湖): Garment manufacturing, luggage, and bags. A major OEM base for global apparel brands.
Advanced solar manufacturing: JinkoSolar is driving next-generation solar cell technology (TOPCon, heterojunction) from its Haining base, with R&D and pilot production lines in the city.
Smart knitwear: Puyuan manufacturers are adopting computerized flat knitting machines and digital design-to-production workflows, enabling faster sampling and customization.
New energy vehicle components: Jiaxing is attracting NEV supply chain investment, leveraging its position between Shanghai and Hangzhou automotive OEMs.
Jiaxing sourcing pitfalls
Solar industry has extreme price competition
Haining solar manufacturers operate on thin margins in a globally competitive market. Quality varies significantly. Verify certifications and request production line audits.
Knitwear quality is driven by yarn grade
A sweater's quality is determined by the yarn, not the factory. Specify yarn composition, count, and grade in your RFQ.
Seasonal production cycles affect availability
Puyuan sweater factories have peak seasons (June-October for winter production). Off-season factory visits may show reduced operations.
What founders should remember
For solar products, Haining is a critical location
JinkoSolar's presence means the entire photovoltaic supply chain — cells, modules, inverters, mounting systems — is accessible.
For sweaters and knitwear, Puyuan is the Chinese capital
70% national market share. If your product involves knitted garments, start here.
Jiaxing is logistically ideal — between Shanghai and Hangzhou
The high-speed rail connection makes Jiaxing one of the easiest YRD manufacturing cities to visit.