"We started with just a few hundred basic designs, hustling at the Canton Fair and European expos to find buyers," recalls a 60-year-old Qi County glass factory owner. Today, his company produces 6,000+ varieties and employs nearly 2,000 workers—a microcosm of Shanxi Province’s rise as China’s hidden glass capital.  

While Venice dazzles the imagination, Qi County quietly powers global glassware. Over 30,000 local artisans craft 260,000 tons annually, exporting to 80+ countries. The tradition began centuries ago, when Ming and Qing-era Shanxi merchants brought European glassblowing techniques home. But it was the late 20th century that transformed apprentices into master craftsmen, fueling an industry that now graces prestige stages—from G20 summits to the Qatar World Cup.  

"Back then, we burned scrap wood to melt glass in mud furnaces," the factory head adds. Now, decades of grit have turned Qi County’s workshops into innovation hubs. What began as a survival trade now sets global tables, proving that behind every glittering piece lies a legacy of human perseverance.