Forty years ago, Xingfu was a town defined by the autumn harvest and the exodus of migrant workers seeking a living elsewhere. Today, the flow has reversed. Located in Boxing county in Shandong province and covering just 52 square kilometers, it has transformed into a global manufacturing hub for kitchen equipment. The town produces over 40% of China’s commercial kitchen equipment, generating more than CNY30 billion in annual output. It has turned local farmers into entrepreneurs, with products reaching over 60 countries and regions across Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia. With 41,000 registered residents and over 40,000 migrant workers, Xingfu is a living testament to the private sector’s capacity for massive employment generation.
The town’s origins were modest. In the 1980s, family workshops produced traditional steamers. By 1993, this grassroots movement had already created over 100 “millionaire households”, an extraordinary feat for the era. Today, that ecosystem has matured into a sophisticated network of 2,800 manufacturers and suppliers. “The journey from family workshops to intelligent green transformation is a microcosm of the private economy,” said Liu Dejun, Director at the Shandong Academy of Macro-economic Research. “Private enterprises are close to the market; they drive the technological iteration necessary for high-quality development.” That iteration is on full display at Shandong Kingbetter Commercial Kitchenware Co. Their latest smart stoves don’t just cook; they collect energy data, diagnose faults and allow for remote control. “In recent years, we’ve focused heavily on intelligent stoves,” said Wang Tongxian, General Manager of Kingbetter. “The market response has been enthusiastic.”
Nearby at Shandong Haoxueer Electrical Appliance Co, innovation takes the form of ultra-low temperature cooling. “Our quick-freeze cabinet uses -40°C technology to lock in nutrients,” said Deputy General Manager Zhou Liwei. “Even a fish, after being frozen, maintains its cell structure and remains fresh upon thawing.” The company partnered with Qingdao University of Science and Technology on deep-freeze technology, energy-saving environmental protection and commercial refrigeration intelligence. Their best-selling product, a specialized cabinet for keeping spicy hot pot ingredients fresh, filled a market gap and consistently leads in sales.
Xingfu’s entrepreneurs are increasingly looking beyond China’s borders. For Kingbetter, overseas sales accounted for 45% of total revenue in 2025, and it has established subsidiaries in Los Angeles and Singapore. The road to global respect hasn’t been easy, though. “In the past, foreign buyers were prejudiced against us as a ‘small town’ operation,” Wang said. To build trust, the company installed live cameras in its workshops as early as 2006, allowing international clients to monitor production in real time. Today, that transparency has paid off, with foreign customers now seeking out Xingfu brands by reputation. “The early family workshops and local pioneers created a strong grassroots startup atmosphere,” said Liu from the Shandong Macro-economic Research Academy.
For years, Xingfu town’s industry relied on cost advantages and scale. But as competition intensified and consumer expectations evolved, weaknesses such as lagging technology, weak branding and shrinking profit margins emerged. Transformation became urgent. Private entrepreneurs responded by committing to innovation. They invested heavily in advanced equipment, recruited talent nationally, and partnered with universities for research and development (R&D).
Today, the town’s kitchen equipment products encompass 12 major series and thousands of varieties. Kingbetter is transitioning from digitalization toward full intelligence. “While our stoves and ovens are already individually smart, the future trend is the intelligent and digital integration of the entire kitchen,” said Wang. “With AI, the concept of a comprehensive smart solution is becoming a reality,” he added. Two years ago, Kingbetter launched a smart kitchen where any behavior failing to meet hygiene standards is immediately detected and corrected. The system enables complete traceability of the entire food processing chain. “The core of building a smart kitchen is food safety, which is why many schools are particularly interested,” said Wang. Liu said that Xingfu town’s entrepreneurs have consistently anchored themselves in manufacturing, pursuing intelligent and green transformation around their core business.
“This offers important lessons for resource-dependent and agricultural regions that upgrading existing traditional industries is often more sustainable than starting something entirely new,” said Liu. Wang from Kingbetter said he expects exports to keep growing and could exceed domestic sales this year, the China Daily reports.
