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An aerial view of Shaoxing Freight East Station showing busy cargo flows in early July this year. [Photo/Tide News]

Shaoxing, a historical city known for its textile industry and global trade, is accelerating its push into international markets.

Data shows that from January to October, Shaoxing's cross-border e-commerce transaction value reached 21.06 billion yuan ($2.98 billion), up 79.1 percent year-on-year.

Shanxiahu town in Shaoxing is known for its pearl industry, which has expanded into TikTok cross-border livestreaming. The town now hosts more than 5,000 merchants, with sales during individual livestream sessions reaching up to $200,000.

The integration of industrial clusters with digital trade channels has become a new driver of high-quality trade growth. Textile producers in Keqiao, pearl businesses in Zhuji, umbrella makers in Shangyu, and tie manufacturers in Shengzhou are expanding their global footprint through online platforms supported by local departments.

Shaoxing has also stepped up efforts to diversify overseas markets through a citywide program aimed at expanding exhibitions and enterprise participation abroad. Alongside stable business in Europe and the United States, local companies have deepened engagement with Belt and Road partner countries and expanded outreach in ASEAN and the Middle East. From January to October, more than 300 delegations and over 3,000 companies traveled overseas for trade events, securing intended deals worth more than $600 million.

High-tech exports have shown strong growth as local enterprises scale up their global strategies. From January to October, exports of high-tech products increased 20.6 percent, with exports of electronic technologies growing 137.7 percent, electronic components by 100.9 percent, and diodes and similar semiconductor devices by 395.2 percent, according to official data.

CP&J City in Shanxiahu town, Zhuji, where pearl businesses and livestream merchants engage in global trade. [Photo/Tide News]