More than a dozen automated production lines have been built in the county, said Li Qiang, deputy director of the Qixian Industry and Information Technology Bureau, adding that several projects are in the pipeline.

In addition, Qixian has invested 30 million yuan to establish a national glassware product quality supervision and inspection center to ensure product quality, Li said.

This facility boasts state-of-the-art inspection and testing equipment, complemented by the expertise of renowned experts and professors. With this robust foundation, Qixian is poised to forge a path toward crafting exquisite masterpieces of glassware, Li added.

Qixian entrusts the high-end and personalized creations to the dexterous hands of artisans, while reserving the domain of simplicity and standardization for the precise prowess of machines. This approach not only ensures the quality of products while meeting market demand, but also preserves the unique essence that sets them apart.

During the spring session of this year's China Import and Export Fair — also known as the Canton Fair — in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, many local and international merchants were drawn to the more than 40 glassware firms, showcasing over 7,000 products.

Local government statistics showed that global buyers placed more than $60 million worth of orders at the trade event, setting a record.

"In addition, the local authorities provide facilitation for businesses to take part in major international exhibitions such as the Gulf Glass Exhibition in Dubai, Messe Frankfurt and Asia-Europe Expo to help explore overseas markets," said Liu Jiangping, director of Qixian Seefully Glass Co Ltd.

Glassware firms like Seefully in Qixian have also been actively utilizing e-commerce platforms to enhance their market presence, secure more orders, and expand their customer base, Liu said.

"E-commerce platforms provide valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences and market trends through analytics and sales data. We can leverage this information to optimize the product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing campaigns to better align with customer demands," Liu added.

Li of the industry and information technology bureau said that with an annual growth rate of 20 percent, Qixian currently boasts over 1,500 online retailers of all kinds, including over 260 cross-border e-commerce stores.

The Qixian government has built an e-commerce service center that offers comprehensive services including marketing, advertising, technical maintenance, warehousing, and logistics to firms engaged in glassware e-commerce, Li said.

The e-commerce service center, which spans 3,000 square meters, has various functional divisions such as an e-commerce live area, a big data center, a business negotiation area, a business incubation center and an e-commerce training center, Li added.