Unique attractions propel Datang as world's top socks cultural center

Boasting distinguished socks-themed landscape and tourism, Datang has become the top socks cultural center in the world.

Boasting distinguished socks-themed landscape and tourism, Datang has become the top socks cultural center in the world.

An industry that started more than 40 years ago in a rural town, Datang's socks market has grown into China's largest, contributing to about 70 percent of the country's overall socks output and more than a third of the global market share. The town churns out an estimated 25 billion pairs annually valued at $11 billion.

Taking this into perspective, the world's human population by April 2019 is 7.7 billion, so that's three pairs of socks for every person in the world each year.

Socks production in Datang runs 24/7 and has become the town's lifeline. Although the industry plays a vital role in shaping Datang's landscape and the lives of its residents, there is more to Datang than socks manufacturing.

The town is also a top socks cultural center, boasting the world's only socks-themed topography and becoming a world-class socks tourism destination. The area hosts museums and educational institutions dedicated solely to socks.

In 2018, it was recognized as an "AAA National Tourist Attraction" and ranked fifth among "China's Most Beautiful and Characteristic Towns". In September of the same year, the local government of Zhejiang province awarded Datang the title of "Provincial Characteristic Town".

Innovation is also among the town's forte. It houses an industrial complex with "socks think tank" as the core that has provided a strong push for the transformation and upgrade of the traditional socks industry with the aid of five factors, namely "high-level talents + market + finance + innovation + creativity". This has led to Datang being recognized as an "Industry Benchmark Town" and an "Industry Demonstration Town" by China's industry-university-research cooperation in 2016.

Getting there is easy as well, thanks to its strategic location.Datang is less than an hour away from the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and the Yiwu Airport. Major roads and railways, including the Shanghai-Kunming and Hangchang high-speed railways, and the Hangjinyu, Zhuyong and Shaozhu expressways, also traverse through the town.

For accommodations, a number of two- to four-star hotels can be booked within the town and in neighboring towns just minutes away.

Sourcing other products? The Yiwu Huangyuan Clothing Market, known for its diverse range of garments and accessories, is approximately 20km away from Datang's main town.