Following the official establishment of the Drawing Pen Special Committee of the China Writing Instrument Association in June, relevant leaders of the Special Committee conducted field research tours in various local industrial clusters from August to September in accordance with the committee's work plan. They held discussions and exchanges with local governments, industry associations and relevant enterprises to understand the current situation of the local drawing pen industry and the overall operation of the writing instrument sector this year, so as to define the future work direction of the Special Committee.

From August 12 to 15, Wang Liwu, Director of the Drawing Pen Special Committee, Yu Guofang, Deputy Director, and Wu Jia, Secretary General, conducted research in four locations: Wengang, Qingyuan, Lishui and Wenzhou. Kong Jianchun, Deputy Mayor of Wengang Town; Shen Shizheng, President of Qingyuan Pencil Industry Association; Chen Zengle, President of Lishui Stationery & Writing Instrument Association; and Zhang Xue'ou, Secretary General of Wenzhou Writing Instrument Association, delivered detailed introductions on the development of the local drawing pen industry on behalf of each industrial cluster at the symposiums. The leaders of the Special Committee had in-depth exchanges and discussions with representatives of local governments, associations and enterprises on the current industry status, industrial development, standard application, major challenges and countermeasures. During the inspection, the delegation also visited enterprises including Nanchang Zhongde Pen Co., Ltd., Jiangxi Yihuale Pen Co., Ltd., Nanchang Dewen Pen Co., Ltd., Nanchang Luoshi Pen Development Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Hongxing Stationery Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Jiuling Brush Co., Ltd., Shanghai Hero Fountain Pen Factory Lishui Co., Ltd., Lishui Zhengxiang Pen Industry Co., Ltd., and Wenzhou Tianjiao Pen Co., Ltd. Through this research, the Special Committee gained a more intuitive understanding of the current industry operation and the development status of the drawing pen industry, identified major common problems facing the industry, and will further carry out work to address these issues in the future.

From September 22 to 24, led by Ren Xiuying, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the China Writing Instrument Association, accompanied by Yu Guofang, Deputy Director of the Drawing Pen Special Committee, Wu Jia, Secretary General, and Professor Wang Zhaolun from Wenzhou University (Director of the Key Laboratory of Writing Instrument Materials of China National Light Industry), the delegation conducted inspections and research in Yangzhou, the "Capital of Chinese Painting Brushes", and Shanlian Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou, the "Capital of Chinese Hubi Brushes".

Yangzhou's painting brush industry has transformed from the traditional writing brush industry and has now become the world's largest production base for painting brushes, with more than 200 factories of various sizes, over 8,000 technical employees, and an annual industrial output value of about 1 billion yuan. The Special Committee delegation inspected Yangzhou Maitian Cultural Articles Co., Ltd. and Yangzhou Shixin Brush Factory in Yangzhou.

Gu Zhihong, General Manager of Yangzhou Maitian Cultural Articles Co., Ltd., briefed the delegation on the company. Located in Shiqiao Town, Yangzhou, the company is a professional manufacturer of oil painting brushes, with products exported to Europe, the United States, the Middle East and other regions, and owns its own brand "Hongyi". Its main products include oil painting brushes, writing brushes, watercolor brushes, cosmetic brushes and medium-to-high-grade nylon painting brushes. The annual output value is about 12 million yuan, with an annual production of about 12 million brushes of various types, 50% of which are for export, and about 60 employees. Adhering to the philosophy of "Pragmatism, Innovation, Mutual Benefit and Win-Win", the company regards product quality as the life of the factory and continuously improves product quality.

Ma Jun, General Manager of Yangzhou Shixin Brush Factory, received the delegation. Founded in 2004 and located in Daqiao Town, Yangzhou, the factory mainly produces medium-to-high-grade products with an annual output value of about 80 million yuan. It is a supplier to major art material enterprises and brands such as Sakura, M&G, Deli, Marie's and Montmartre, and has its own independent brands. The ratio of domestic sales to export sales is about 30:70. The company insists on product development as the core, focuses on product quality and independent innovation, attaches importance to automated production and equipment investment, and owns a modern factory with a full set of automated production equipment. In view of the absence of a local industry association for painting brushes in Yangzhou, General Manager Ma communicated with the association leaders, hoping to establish a local painting brush industry association in Yangzhou with the support of the Drawing Pen Special Committee.

Shanlian Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou City is the birthplace of Hubi brushes, which have a history of more than 2,000 years and enjoy the reputation of "Capital of Chinese Hubi Brushes". As one of the four famous writing brushes in China, Hubi has been the most renowned writing brush in China since the Yuan Dynasty. Hubi features exquisite material selection and sophisticated craftsmanship, requiring more than 120 procedures in the production process.

Li Lianlian, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanlian Town, Zhang Huafei, Deputy Secretary, and Yao Huiliang, Executive Deputy Mayor, held discussions with the Special Committee delegation. Secretary Li Lianlian introduced the current industrial development of Shanlian Town. Shanlian Hubi Town is one of the first characteristic towns in Zhejiang Province. At present, there are more than 400 Hubi market entities in Shanlian Town, with an annual output of 14 million Hubi brushes, more than 1,600 employees, and annual sales of Hubi and related products of nearly 1 billion yuan, accounting for 60% of the national high-end writing brush market and 30% of the Hubi market. Guided by the development philosophy of "upholding integrity and promoting innovation", the Shanlian Hubi industry, on the basis of retaining traditional craftsmanship and adhering to the high-end route, continuously carries out technological innovation and extends to other industrial chains including student pens, oil painting brushes, watercolor pens and beauty brushes. Meanwhile, it seeks breakthroughs in automated production, technological and design innovation, and hopes to receive support from the Drawing Pen Special Committee in relevant fields. Vice Chairman Ren Xiuying introduced the China Writing Instrument Association, the background and development goals of the establishment of the Drawing Pen Special Committee to the leaders of Shanlian Town. Through exchanges, both sides agreed to jointly build a platform for technological development, automated equipment research and development, cultural and creative design, product customized sales and other fields, bridge cooperation for their respective enterprises, and achieve win-win results.

In Shanlian Town, the Special Committee delegation visited the Shanlian Hubi Town, research and study base, Shanlian Hubi Factory, Huzhou Zhenlu Hubi Co., Ltd. and Shanlian Chunfeng Hubi Factory. Founded in 1956 with a history of more than 60 years, Shanlian Hubi Factory is one of the earliest professional Hubi manufacturers and a large-scale Hubi production enterprise in China. Its "Shuangyang Brand" Hubi is a "China Time-honored Brand", exquisitely made according to traditional craftsmanship, featuring sharpness, neatness, roundness and resilience. Yao Yulin and Yang Wen, the post-90s inheritors of intangible cultural heritage at Huzhou Zhenlu Hubi Co., Ltd., have created a new idea of "Cultural Creativity + Intangible Cultural Heritage" for the traditional Hubi industry. The cultural and creative brushes such as "Fu Brush" designed and developed by them are widely popular among young people and the market. Lv Tao, the "second-generation factory owner" of Shanlian Chunfeng Hubi Factory, found after researching young consumers that many people now care about the appearance and writing experience of writing brushes. His team has improved brush materials and craftsmanship, developed cultural and creative gifts, blind-box Hubi brushes and other products, continuously stimulating the purchasing power of young people for the thousand-year-old Hubi industry.

Source: Official WeChat Account of China Writing Instrument Association