Xiamen is one of China's top five eyewear production hubs, with its mid-to-high-end sunglasses holding over 80 percent of the domestic market share. The city's eyewear industry has achieved an annual output value exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.42 billion) for multiple years. 

Through the lens of a single pair of glasses, one can glimpse the distinctive industrial development landscape that characterizes Xiamen.

Xiamen eyewear industry forms cluster

Eyepol production line. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

Upstream and downstream eyewear manufacturers are clustered within a 5-kilometer radius of Dongfu, Haicang district. This allows eyewear businesses to easily fulfill various procurement and production needs within a short timeframe. 

Among the over 300 eyewear enterprises of various types in Xiamen, more than 20 have achieved an annual output value exceeding one billion yuan. 

The cluster has convinced eyewear businesses from other parts of China to establish factories in Xiamen. Together with local Xiamen eyewear brands such as Bolon and Molson, these enterprises have propelled Xiamen's eyewear industry into the national and global spotlight within a short period of time.

Tech-enabled eyewear keeps evolving

The Xiamen International Optics Fair. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

The Xiamen International Optics Fair, spanning 60,000 square meters, brought together over 800 premium domestic and international brands, showcasing the latest products and cutting-edge trends in the sector. One key reason why this fifth edition of the fair attracted exceptional attention lies in its dedicated "Smart Eyewear" exhibition zone, which has become a highlight hotspot of the event.

According to projections by authoritative institutions, the global market for AI smart glasses is expected to reach 5.7 million units by 2025, and this trend has already extended to Xiamen's consumer market. Data shows that Xiamen is now home to 69 companies related to AI eyewear, including local branches established by leading domestic AI players such as Huawei and Xiaomi.

New AI frontiers create new opportunities

At this Xiamen International Optics Fair, a leading local eyewear brand in Xiamen teamed up with a domestic product platform company specializing in next-generation human-computer interaction technology to launch a high-profile AI smart glass. 

Unlike previous products that emphasized technological features, this model adopts a more moderate "reduced configuration" while incorporating a structural design better suited for Asian facial contours. With a single frame weight of 38.5 grams, it brings smart glasses one step closer to becoming daily eyewear.