Foreign buyers visit Guzhen town in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, a production center of lighting devices in China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An international purchasing group visited lighting enterprises on Wednesday in Guzhen town of Zhongshan, Guangdong province, as the production hub steps up efforts to court buyers abroad.

The delegation, drawn from Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Vietnam, arrived after encountering Guzhen suppliers at the 2026 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), which opened on April 20. Thirty-one local enterprises showcased products at the fair, and the local government invited buyers to visit the production center in person.

Foreign buyers visit Guzhen town in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, a production center of lighting devices in China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The group toured the newly-opened Guzhen International Business Service Center, which offers foreign investors support across residence administration, government services, daily living, finance, medical care, education, and cultural tourism. An afternoon matching event allowed buyers and suppliers to discuss product specifications, certification standards, delivery lead times, and customized requirements; several enterprises reached preliminary cooperation intentions on the spot.

The outreach extends beyond Guangdong. From April 18 to 19, Guzhen enterprises joined a promotional roadshow in Beijing. At Wanlong Huiyang Home and Lighting Plaza — a venue where more than 80 percent of exhibitors hail from Zhongshan and 60 percent from Guzhen — discounts and consumption subsidies run through April 26.

Foreign buyers visit Guzhen town in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, a production center of lighting devices in China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Store foot traffic has increased by two to three times compared with ordinary weekends," said Li Xing, general manager of the Beijing distributor of Guzhen-based Songwei Lighting, a high-end brand established in 2003. He attributed the products' nationwide appeal to strong design, reliable quality, and advanced manufacturing.

Guzhen's product range spans modern, new Chinese-style, European, and minimalist styles, covering everyday households and high-end bespoke engineering orders alike. New products include AI intelligent dimming lamps, blue-light-free healthy lighting, and integrated whole-house lighting solutions.

Foreign buyers visit Guzhen town in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, a production center of lighting devices in China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"If you can think of a lighting fixture, Guzhen can make it," said the town's Party secretary, adding that the town has added English road signs and encourages service staff to practice commercial English to better accommodate foreign buyers.

Guzhen has roughly 92,000 market entities and exports lighting products to more than 180 countries and regions, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the global lighting market share and over 70 percent of China's domestic market share, according to data from local authorities.

In recent years, the Guzhen lighting industry has accelerated its transformation from a domestic trade-oriented model to an export-oriented one with rapid export growth.