Xiaolan () is a town situated at the northwest periphery of the city of Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
Per a 2020 publication by the Zhongshan government, Xiaolan has approximately 333,000 permanent residents,
History
According to some historical imperial records, a concubine of emperor
Emperor 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 action broke out at a Honda Lock plant in Xiaolan,
Administrative divisions
As of 2020, Xiaolan is divided into 15 residential communities.
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Shakou Community (p=)
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Xinshi Community (p=)
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Dongqu Community (p=)
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Jixi Community (p=)
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Beiqu Community (p=)
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Zhuyuan Community (p=)
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Jidong First Community (p=)
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Jidong Second Community (p=)
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Shengfeng Community (p=)
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Baofeng Community (p=)
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Jiuzhouji Community (p=)
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Yongning Community (p=)
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Xiqu Community (p=)
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Liexi First Community (p=)
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Lianfeng Community (p=)
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 (p=Chángqīng Jítuán), and
Forest Lighting (p=Mùlínsēn Zhàomíng).
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” (p=Jú Chéng), 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
Business 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
Electronics 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,
,
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
Renminbi 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 lamp.
This industry accounts for over ¥10 billion in value to the local economy.
Major LED brands with a presence in Xiaolan include
Forest Lighting (p=Mùlínsēn Zhàomíng), Everlight Electronics, Honbro Technologies (p=Hóngbǎo Kējì),
Poso Lighting (p=Pǐnshàng Zhàomíng), and Guangyang Appliances (p=Guāngyáng Diànqì).
Tertiary sector
Xiaolan has 19
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
, 15 public
, 5
, and 10 private schools.
Healthcare
The Xiaolan People's Hospital (p=Xiǎolǎn Rénmín Yīyuàn), and the Chen Xinghai Hospital (p=Chén Xīnghǎi Yīyuàn) are both located in the town.
98.85% of Xiaolan's population is insured.
Culture
Many residents in Xiaolan cultivate
. 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
.
The Xiaolan Integrated Sports Centre was established in 1994, and has hosted a number of national and international table tennis since then.
Historical attractions
Transportation
The town's railway station, Xiaolan railway station is situated on the Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway.
== Gallery ==
See also
