--- description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. title: From rickety bikes to automated strollers, modernization transforms county image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt27b2cf2436a16bc5/6a4b523c67a9435d177a6e8e/CA814CDAE02945D48066332E168136A3.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- # From rickety bikes to automated strollers, modernization transforms county  _This content was paid for and prepared by China Daily, an official publication of the People's Republic of China. The TIME editorial and advertising departments were not involved in the creation of this content._ Finishing touches are made to baby strollers on an assembly line on April 18, in Pingxiang county, Hebei province. ZHAO YONGHUI / FOR CHINA DAILY By ZHANG YU As morning mist lingers over a residential compound, a mother places her toddler in a stroller. After activating an auto-follow mode, the “Xiaokabu” automated smart stroller glides silently behind her like a loyal nanny, gently avoiding pebble paths and puppies. When she crouches to wipe her child’s face, the stroller halts. As she resumes walking, it follows without delay. This futuristic scenario happened recently in Pingxiang county of Xingtai, a city in Hebei province — a hinterland area that produces a huge proportion of the world’s strollers. Yet the birthplace of this cutting-edge baby carrier traces its roots back to humbler beginnings. In the 1970s, Pingxiang was a small county where a bicycle was more than just a vehicle — it was a symbol of prosperity and a coveted item in the “three essentials” for marriage. The other two were a sewing machine and a wristwatch. However, for ordinary people, especially those in rural areas, acquiring a bicycle was no easy task due to its high price and the scarce supply. “They were like the Ferraris of today,” recalled Chai Cunliang, 66, president of Pingxiang County Toy and Baby Products Trade Association. However, necessity is the mother of invention. Two resourceful locals, Pan Baose and Pan Baochun, took matters into their own hands when one of the men’s sons needed a bicycle to fulfill his marriage obligations. They gathered parts from various sources, including substandard components from relatives working at bicycle factories in neighboring Tianjin city. In a dusty shed, they assembled the county’s first no-name bicycle — a two-wheeler with a rickety frame locals dubbed heilaohu or Black Tiger.“This initial endeavor gradually spread, and bicycle parts trading markets began to emerge,” Chai said. These markets gradually helped Pingxiang grow into a significant bicycle parts trading hub. “The seed of the county’s bicycle and child vehicle industry was planted,” said Chai, who has witnessed the industry’s remarkable development over the past five decades. From its humble beginnings, the county gradually developed into a bicycle and child vehicle industry cluster that now produces bicycles, child vehicles and toy vehicles, as well as their parts. Pingxiang county now stands as a powerhouse in the bicycle and child vehicle industry, boasting over 8,000 upstream and downstream enterprises, according to the local government. It produces about 50% of the nation’s and 40% of the world’s bicycles and child vehicles, with products exported to over 100 countries and regions, statistics show. In recent years, a growing number of foreign merchants have traveled to the county to inspect and purchase bicycles, strollers and components. Ilhomjon Turdikulov, a buyer from Uzbekistan, visited Pingxiang on June 10 to purchase bicycle parts, and stayed in the county for about a week. “The parts I bought last time have sold out, so I came for some new ones,” he said, adding that the components he purchased in Pingxiang are very popular in his country. His previous journey was in March. Customers like Turdikulov learn about the county through trade shows or are introduced to its products by friends and colleagues. E-commerce platforms are also helping local businesses go global. The county has hosted 19 consecutive expos to showcase its bicycles, child vehicles, and toys. The latest exhibition in March attracted more than 1,500 companies from inside and outside the province and customers from around the globe, with 4.15 billion yuan in orders made, according to local government data. “While people around the world come to Pingxiang, the industry has evolved from small assembly operations into a sophisticated cluster with a complete industrial chain, covering everything from raw materials like steel, plastic, and rubber to parts manufacturing, whole-vehicle assembly, research and development, and modern logistics,” Chai said. It is a key pillar of the local economy, employing 120,000 people and generating revenue of over 30 billion yuan in 2024, according to Li Yunping, an official with the county’s market supervision and administration bureau. Despite its remarkable achievements, the bicycle and child vehicle industry in Pingxiang faces challenges such as the need for greater innovation and brand building, as well as the push for higher-end products. To address these challenges, local enterprises are increasing their investment in research and development, adopting advanced technologies and equipment, and strengthening cooperation with various institutions, according to Chai. “As this industry continues to evolve, it will bring more high-quality products to consumers worldwide,” Chai said. 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