China's equipment and high-tech manufacturing sectors remained in expansion in October, emerging as key forces in stabilizing the broader economy, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data released Saturday.
The expansion bucked the trend that the PMI for China's manufacturing sector dropped to 49.3 in October, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month.
The divergence between new and old growth drivers is clear. Both the equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors maintained expansion in both production and demand, with their production indexes staying above the 50 percent threshold for 27 consecutive months.
Supported by the country’s "Six Networks" initiative, the new orders index for China’s equipment manufacturing sector rebounded above 51 percent in October, while demand in the high-tech manufacturing sector continued to improve.
By contrast, the consumer goods manufacturing and basic raw materials sectors saw their business sentiment weakened markedly.
Large enterprises operated steadily, with the PMI standing at 50.2 percent and both production and demand in expansion territory. Small and medium-sized enterprises, however, came under relatively greater pressure, operating weakly with both the production and demand sides constrained. Business expectations across the sector remained cautiously optimistic, the data showed.
"Looking ahead to November, as special bonds accelerate the formation of tangible workloads and e-commerce promotions boost the release of consumer demand, combined with the continued expansion of artificial intelligence-related industries, the manufacturing sector has a foundation to stabilize. However, some sectors are entering the off-season, so the room for recovery is relatively limited," said He Hui, vice president of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.
China's equipment, high-tech manufacturing continue to expand in October
China's equipment, high-tech manufacturing continue to expand in October
China's equipment, high-tech manufacturing continue to expand in October
Traditional Dong ethnic attire is drawing travelers to Zhaoxing Dong Village in southwest China's Guizhou Province, where a travel photography boom is creating jobs and promoting local culture.
As one of China's largest villages primarily inhabited by Dong ethnic residents, Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County was once economically underdeveloped due to poor transportation and a lack of industrial diversity. In recent years, the village has leveraged its unique ethnic culture and ecological resources to develop cultural tourism.
At 08:00, a shop renting ethnic clothing in the village is already open. Tourists can rent traditional Dong outfits, with silver necklaces and headpieces included, for the day and pose for photos with traditional village buildings as a backdrop. Once reserved mainly for festivals, the garments now underpin a steady rental business, fueled by the growing popularity of travel photography.
"We have a peak season in July and August. During that time, the shop can serve over 100 customers a day. I usually serve at least 15 to 20 customers myself. In the off-season, we get about five or six customers on Saturdays and Sundays. In the peak season, my monthly income is over 10,000 yuan (about 1,500 U.S. dollars)," said Li Cancan, a makeup and styling artist at a local photo studio.
Some travelers hire local photographers. While some prefer daytime shoots, nighttime sessions keep photographers busy late into the night.
"It's quite common to start shooting at 07:00 or 08:00 and work until 01:00 or 02:00 the next morning. July and August tend to be busier, and the same goes for holidays like Labor Day and National Day," said Huang Liang, a photographer at a local studio.
From costume rentals and makeup services to outdoor shoots and photo editing, Zhaoxing Dong Village has developed a complete travel photography industry chain that offers visitors a full experience.
"I think the yellow really suits my skin tone. I was very happy today. I took a lot of photos and they came out really well," said Jiang Yuxin, a visitor from south China's Guangdong Province.
The village now has 76 photo studios, creating jobs for more than 200 villagers near their homes.
Travel photography booms in Guizhou's Dong ethnic village
