China-made solar fan hat sees soaring overseas demand

A solar-powered fan hat developed in east China's Yiwu has become a sensation in the global market, garnering more than nine million online views within 24 hours and accumulating over 500,000 overseas orders.

As temperatures climb across much of the world this summer, cooling products from China are seeing unprecedented demand on cross-border e-commerce platforms. Among them, a solar-powered fan hat produced in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, has emerged as a standout item.

The hat features a solar-powered design and has been refined through multiple iterations, especially around details like the fan blades. Several technologies have been patented, combining both practicality and safety. According to the manufacturer, orders have now been placed through August, with the product frequently sold out despite ongoing overtime shifts at the production site.

To meet market demand, the manufacturer plans to collaborate with industry peers while increasing investment in research and development, aiming to launch products with more advanced features and a greater variety of styles.

"We've also extended our capabilities by partnering with more industry peers to work on this together. In the past, we could only produce two to three thousand hats per day, but now our daily capacity has reached nearly 10,000 hats, a significant boost in efficiency. Looking ahead, we're committed to embracing ongoing changes, breaking out of traditional boundaries, and adapting to the evolving market. We're also actively expanding into the Southeast Asian market," said Jiang Yongtao, factory manager.

The growing popularity of the product is emblematic of a broader trend in China's manufacturing sector, namely, the rise of smaller-scale, highly innovative goods that gain traction globally through new media tools and flexible supply chains.

"I've been coming to China for nearly ten years. The products made here are of good quality, cost-effective, and I can always find something new each time I visit," said an Indian merchant.

Relying on a well-established industrial chain and a flexible supply chain system, Yiwu is rapidly transforming from the world's largest small commodity market into a global hub for creative products, accelerating its path toward branding and internationalization.

"Yiwu's trade network spans more than 230 countries and regions. Our merchants are deeply responsive to global consumer trends and product changes. We are actively promoting brand globalization and helping local businesses develop overseas channels," said Gong Chenghao, deputy general manager of Yiwu Mall Group.

China-made solar fan hat sees soaring overseas demand

Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Italy and Greece on Saturday to protest against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with protesters in Rome, Milan and Athens condemning Washington's actions and calling for respect for Venezuelan sovereignty.

In Rome, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched toward the area near the U.S. Embassy, calling on Washington to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Police blocked roads around the embassy to prevent protesters from approaching the building, but demonstrators continued to denounce U.S. actions.

"First of all, we oppose U.S. imperialist aggression. This kind of behavior is shameful. The U.S. is attacking a sovereign country, and as [U.S. President Donald] Trump himself has said, this is for oil interests," said protester Giovanni Barbera.

Saturday's rally marked the second large-scale protest in Rome this month against U.S. military operations in Venezuela, following an earlier one on on Jan 3.

Participants included members of multiple political parties, labor unions and social organizations. The protesters held banners reading "Stop imperialist interference" and "Free Maduro," urging the international community to respect Venezuela's sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning the U.S. for violating international law.

"We are protesting the way the U.S. handles international politics. Since the events of January 3, we have seen violations of international law, and we are very concerned about how the global situation is developing," said protester Stefano De Angelis.

Organizers said solidarity rallies in support of Venezuela were held in 30 Italian cities on the same day.

Meanwhile, similar protests were also staged in Greece. About 200 people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, voicing support for Venezuela and opposition to U.S. military actions.

"We oppose U.S. imperialism and its attack on Venezuela. At the same time, the U.S. is also threatening Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. We must stand up against this behavior," said Greek protester Argiro Sirmakezi.

Protesters rally in Italy, Greece against U.S. military operation in Venezuela