The 2025 Sichuan Silk Expo is scheduled to open at Nanchong International Convention and Exhibition Center from November 20 to 23. This marks another major event in the cocoon and silk industry that Nanchong is hosting, following the National Cocoon Silk Work Conference and the Boao International Summit on the Origin of World Silk.

At this expo, Nanchong will showcase a collection of premium "Made in Nanchong" products, promote a series of "Nanchong Intelligent Manufacturing" solutions and standards, and engage in thought-provoking exchanges with domestic and international manufacturers.

Why was this major event awarded to Nanchong? What key highlights will be showcased, and what specific industry opportunities are expected to emerge?

Why Nanchong

A Hub of Industrial Innovation

"The city produced 16 million meters of silk fabric and 600,000 silk quilts, ranking first in the province in both categories," announced Wu Han, Deputy Director of Nanchong Commerce Bureau. The figures reveal why the Silk Expo was awarded to Nanchong.

As the only "Silk Capital of China" in the central and western regions, Nanchong boasts over 40,000 households engaged in the sericulture industry, with a high-quality mulberry base spanning 300,000 mu (approximately 20,000 hectares). The city is home to three provincial-level silkworm egg production centers and 73 above-designated-size silk and garment enterprises, maintaining its leading position in the province.

However, what truly captivates industry experts is the rising innovation quotient within Nanchong's sericulture sector.

At the Yilong County Modern Sericulture Park, the reporter observed lush groves of improved mulberry varieties like "Chuansang 825" and "Nongsang", smart-equipped silkworm sheds yielding plump cocoons, and batches of 3rd-instar silkworms being transferred from standardized young silkworm rearing facilities to local farmers.

"Although sericulture is a traditional craft, our industrial park is anything but low-tech," said an official from the Yilong County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau. He explained that the mulberry leaves cultivated in the park were developed through collaboration with Southwest University and the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, ensuring both yield and quality of the mulberry leaves remain at the forefront of the industry. Meanwhile, the high-quality silkworm eggs promoted in Yilong County demonstrate strong disease resistance and excel in both cocoon shell thickness and reelability rate, ensuring consistent quality of raw silk from the source.

A similar wave of innovation is also transforming the textile manufacturing sector. Yinhai Silk's new production facility, located in the Jialing Industrial Zone, recently became operational. The 3,100-square-meter standardized dust-free workshop features specialized zones for metal detection, silk quilt production, quilt cover manufacturing, and quilting, designed to accommodate multi-stage production needs. "Overall production efficiency has increased by approximately ten percent," stated a representative of Nanchong Yinhai Silk Co., Ltd. He noted that through technological innovation, the company's silk quilt rebound rate now exceeds 92 percent.

What to Expect at the Expo

Establishing a National Exchange Platform

On the afternoon of November 14, the expo's official agenda was announced, featuring six carefully sequenced flagship events that have already generated significant industry discussion. A representative of Sichuan Bombyx Organic Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. revealed to the reporter that the company plans to participate in two promotion sessions during the expo, aiming to identify opportunities for developing new functional silk materials.

"We plan to establish a nationwide exchange platform integrating five key elements: government, industry, academia, research, and capital," stated the official from the Nanchong Commerce Bureau. Starting November 20, events including the 2025 China Silk Conference, industrial investment promotion and project signing ceremonies, the National Cocoon Silk Industry High-Quality Development On-site Promotion Conference, and innovation product showcases will be held sequentially to facilitate in-depth dialogue on the sector's development path.

The "Eastern Silk, Western Consolidation" working session, held concurrently during the expo, has also attracted significant attention. It is understood that this initiative, proposed by the Ministry of Commerce, aims to facilitate the relocation of the silk industry from eastern to western regions through industrial transfer and regional collaboration.

A representative of the Sichuan Silk Association noted that the industry has long operated under a pattern of "sericulture and mulberry-planting in the western region, silk-weaving and brand-building in the eastern region". This structure has led to low-value-added products in the western region and unstable raw material supply in the eastern region, revealing weak connectivity across the industrial chain's upstream and downstream sectors. "How to break this pattern, bridge the key linkage between eastern and western regions, and establish a unified, efficient national supply chain has become a central focus of the conference."

A representative of the 2025 Sichuan Silk Expo organizing committee confirmed that over 500 global industry experts and executives from key silk and textile enterprises are scheduled to attend, with more than 250 companies from the cocoon-silk value chain and regional specialty product sectors set to exhibit.

Beyond the Expo

A Consumer Carnival for All

At the Silk Expo, pristine white cocoons will transform into intricate paintings with just a brush and pigments, while plain silk squares will become unique tie-dye artworks through folding, binding, and dyeing. These traditional crafts will offer immersive, hands-on experiences for visitors.

At a recent press conference for the 2025 Sichuan Silk Expo, Cui Zhujun, Vice Mayor of Nanchong Municipal People's Government, announced that to make the silk event inclusive for all, a hands-on silk craft zone will be set up during the expo, offering interactive activities like cocoon painting and silk tie-dyeing.

"In the past, silk was often associated with terms like 'expensive,' 'delicate,' or even 'outdated,' which deterred potential consumers," stated a representative of the 2025 Sichuan Silk Expo organizing committee. "This year, the expo will feature six fashion shows and hands-on silk craft activities, using engaging and enjoyable methods to bridge the gap between silk and modern consumers."

To elevate this year's Silk Expo from an industry-focused event into a citywide consumer "carnival", Nanchong will also distribute daily voucher packages via the UnionPay Mobile QuickPass App at 9:00 a.m. sharp for three consecutive days. Residents and visitors can use these vouchers for on-site purchases of silk products, cultural creations, and related derivatives.

"Consumers can use the vouchers at participating exhibition halls and booths on-site," the representative stated. The expo is offering three tiers of vouchers: 100 yuan off for purchases over 200 yuan, 50 yuan off for purchases over 100 yuan, and 20 yuan off for purchases over 50 yuan, with the highest discount reaching 50 percent off. (Reporter: Xu Haoxuan)

Industry Updates

Annual Export Value Surpasses 200 Million Yuan

Nanchong Silk Garments Reach Global Markets in Europe and America

According to information recently provided by the Nanchong Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, the city has established 300,000 mu (approximately 20,000 hectares) of high-quality mulberry bases, with the annual export value of its silk garments surpassing 200 million yuan. As one of the province's three major sericulture zones, Nanchong has in recent years centered its efforts on market demand, optimizing layouts, innovating models, and extending industrial chains to advance the sector from traditional farming toward full-chain integrated development.

At the sericulture industrial park of Sichuan Yushan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. in Yilong County, the reporter observed contiguous fields of high-quality mulberry trees undergoing concentrated harvesting. Through an integrated model featuring unified land transfer, plantation development, and supporting facilities, coupled with centralized young silkworm rearing and standardized techniques, the company enables farming households to manage mulberry groves and rear mature silkworms independently, with a guaranteed minimum price for cocoon purchases. This approach has established over 6,000 mu (approximately 400 hectares) of sericulture base, supported by 40 factory-style silkworm rearing facilities, driving average annual household income exceeding 130,000 yuan for 46 major sericulture families.

To upgrade its sericulture industry, Nanchong is building a comprehensive industrial chain spanning from mulberry planting and silkworm rearing to silk textile processing and garment export. "We are making coordinated efforts across the entire chain—from base construction and product development to brand innovation and market expansion," said Zhu Xiaofeng, Deputy General Manager of Sichuan Bombyx Organic Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. As the province's only silk enterprise integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, the company directly supplies silk garments to European and American markets.

It is learned that Nanchong has established one provincial-level five-star, one four-star, and one three-star modern sericulture park, respectively, while developing specialized bases for organic tea mulberry and ecological fruit mulberry. This ensures that 100 percent of cocoons undergo primary processing at their origin.