Recently, a delegation of young South African entrepreneurs from the Belt and Road E-Commerce Valley Study Tour visited Jinyun Machine Tool Town, immersing themselves in the industrial vitality of China’s Band Saw Capital and exploring the secrets of entrepreneurship and innovation in southern Zhejiang’s mountainous region.

First Stop: Julihuang Saw Museum -- Tracing the Legend of Band Saws through Time

The first stop on the tour was the Julihuang Saw Museum, China’s first museum dedicated to band saws. Housed in a renovated factory building known as the “Silver Box”, the museum showcases both the evolution of sawing technology and the development of Jinyun’s band saw industry.

In the exhibition hall where sound, light, and physical exhibits blended together, the young South Africans followed the timeline from stone sickles to intelligent band saws. From Neolithic stone sickles and Shang dynasty clam sickles to bronze hand saws of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and even wooden band saws reconstructed from da Vinci's manuscripts—these millennia-spanning tools captivated the group at every turn. Through this historical journey, the delegation learned about Jinyun’s transformation from the “Sickle Era” to the “Industrial Age”, and also realized that the band saws produced here hold a leading position in China’s market with an impressive 70% share nationwide.

Second Stop: Julihuang Production Workshop — Experiencing China’s Manufacturing Power Amid the Roar of Machines

Moving from history to the present, the delegation then visited the production workshop of Zhejiang Julihuang Sawing Machine Group Co., Ltd. Amid the hum of automated equipment, intelligent production lines operated in an orderly manner. The entire process of laser welding and high-precision sawing allowed the young entrepreneurs a close-up look at the strength of “Made in China”.

Staff members detailed the company’s entrepreneurial journey from dismantling and researching discarded band saws in its early days to exporting products worldwide, achieving a breakthrough by entering the German market for the first time. When the visitors learned that Jinyun’s band saws are now widely applied in high-end sectors such as high-speed rail, aerospace and nuclear power, they eagerly raised technical questions, sparking lively exchanges on site.

Third Stop: Industrial Innovation Service Complex — Discovering the Industry’s Future through a One-Stop Platform

If Julihuang demonstrated its long-cultivated strengths, the Jinyun Band Saw and Specialized Machinery Innovation Service Complex showcased the collaborative innovation ecosystem of the entire industry.

In the exhibition hall, staff introduced the “industrial empowerment platform” integrating research and development (R&D) , services, incubation and transactions. Built around five major platforms, it provides full-chain innovation services for more than 200 band saw and machine tool enterprises, enabling them to access expert support, technology development assistance and financial matchmaking — all within their local reach.

The physical exhibition area displayed a wide range of industrial products such as machinery, light transport vehicles, and smart home appliances. The young South African entrepreneurs explored and tested the exhibits first-hand, discussing design concepts, R&D processes, and market applications in depth.

Building Bridges of Cooperation: Fostering Youth Partnerships through Industry

The one-day study tour was compact yet rewarding. From the legacy of craftsmanship to modern manufacturing, from enterprise dedication to industry-wide collaboration, Jinyun’s industrial vitality and innovation spirit left a profound impression on the young South African entrepreneurs. They said that this trip not only unlocked the code of Chinese manufacturing, but also opened up new avenues for future cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative connects mountains and seas, bringing together the power of youth to shape a shared future. This study tour enabled young South Africans to appreciate Jinyun’s ethos of “craftsmanship and innovation”, while inspiring local enterprises with the vast potential of international cooperation. Looking ahead, the study tour is expected to serve as a starting point for deeper exchanges between Chinese and international youth in the fields of economy and trade, industry, and culture, and to jointly open a new chapter of youth cooperation under the “Belt and Road” initiative!