Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article highlights Shanxiahu Town’s transformation into a hub for eco-friendly pearl farming and trading, driven by technological innovation and sustainable practices.
A customer selects pearl earrings at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Aug. 9, 2025. Shanxiahu Town is renowned for its pearl industry, which spans pearl farming, processing, trading, and cultural tourism.
Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming and green development. The town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of the country’s pearl trading volume. The “beauty economy” has also significantly improved household revenues. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Workers release mussels at a smart pearl farming base in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City, Aug. 9, 2025. The town’s pearl industry is known for its comprehensive chain from farming to cultural tourism.
A shopkeeper (R) introduces pearl jewelry to a customer at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Aug. 9, 2025. The town’s focus on innovation supports both eco-friendly practices and economic growth.
This photo taken on Aug. 9, 2025 shows pearl jewelry products at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town. The town’s pearl industry is a key driver of the local economy.
A worker opens a mussel to retrieve pearls in Shanxiahu Town, Aug. 9, 2025. Technological innovations have modernized traditional pearl farming methods.
A customer selects pearl jewelry at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Aug. 9, 2025. The town handles 80% of China’s pearl trading volume.
This photo taken on Aug. 9, 2025 shows a simulated pearl farming system in Shanxiahu Town. The system exemplifies the town’s commitment to tech-driven, sustainable pearl farming.
