Wangqingqi, located in the southwest of Wuqing, Tianjin, is known as China's "Bicycle Town" due to the concentration of hundreds of companies involved in the upstream and downstream of the bicycle industry. On December 5th, a reporter from *Huaxia Times* visited Wangqingqi to investigate the current state of the traditional bicycle production chain under the influence of the sharing economy. The town, once bustling with activity, now appears quiet—closed factory gates, idle production lines, and empty streets. Many believe that this once-thriving "bicycle town" is at a critical turning point.
As an essential part of the wheel economy, the entire town of Wangqingqi was swept into a whirlwind of shared bicycles last year. Local bicycle companies experienced the rush of orders, but also faced the consequences of the overexpansion of the shared bike market. While some were initially excited about the opportunities, few could predict how long the downturn would last after the initial surge.
The once-bustling town now stands in silence. Winter has made things even colder, but it's the bleak situation of the cycling companies that truly reflects the town's struggle.
Yang Rui, a sales manager at a local bicycle company in Wangqingqi (using a pseudonym as requested by the interviewee), told *Huaxia Times* that their daily output has dropped significantly. “We have five production lines, but only two are currently operating,†he said. He explained that the supply chain has been disrupted due to environmental regulations, making it difficult to get necessary parts. Additionally, the market demand has plummeted, resulting in fewer orders.
For smaller bicycle manufacturers, the situation is even more dire. Wang Chao, who manages a small-scale bicycle company in Wangqingqi, said that most shared bike components differ from those used in domestic sales. “If all the bikes in Beijing were equipped, we could produce around 500 units per day,†he said. However, on the day of the investigation, his factory was completely shut down.
Another local factory owner, Mason, revealed that part of the factory space was rented out for shared bike production. “We made some money, but it didn’t last long,†he said. Although his assembly line has been reduced, it hasn’t stopped entirely yet.
This wasn’t always the case. In the winter of 2016, Wangqingqi was thriving. Factories were fully operational, and trucks lined up outside waiting to transport newly produced shared bikes to different parts of the city.
According to *Huaxia Times*, many factories in Wangqingqi started producing bicycle forklifts after the Spring Festival this year. However, the surge in demand led to skyrocketing prices for bicycle parts. For example, single-speed flywheels rose from 2.4 yuan to 4.5 yuan per piece, marking a nearly 90% increase.
This period of excitement lasted until the first half of this year. Employees at a local bicycle company told the reporter that their shared bikes were being loaded continuously for a full month in May. “Then the boss stopped taking orders. There were dozens of cartons waiting outside the factory, and the assembly line ran non-stop,†one employee recalled.
The future of Wangqingqi remains uncertain. As the shared bike boom fades, the town must find new ways to sustain its once-thriving industry.
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