Factories nationwide shift into high gear on first workday of 2026

On the first working day of 2026, workshops and factories across China were already buzzing with activity. Workers returned to their posts and ramped up production to fulfill orders and meet delivery schedules, kicking off the new year with strong momentum. From the industrial production of intangible cultural heritage crafts and the fulfillment of foreign trade orders to the efficient operation of smart manufacturing lines, industries nationwide pressed ahead with a “sprint from the very start,” laying a solid foundation for a strong economic opening to the year.

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers producing Tujia brocade at the Guaiyaomei Tujia Brocade Base in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, central China's Hunan Province. (Wu Yongbing/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers rushing to complete textile orders at Xinjiang Jingyi Textile Technology Co., Ltd. in Kumubage Community, Awati Town, Awati County, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Bao Liangting/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers busy on the production line at Haiyang Technology Co., Ltd. in Hailing District, Taizhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Tang Dehong/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers assembling mini excavators to meet domestic and overseas orders at Hunan Deli Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. in the industrial development zone of Xintian County, Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province. (Liu Guixiong/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers inspecting export-bound rubber tires at a tire manufacturing enterprise in Dawang Town, Guangrao County, Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province. (Liu Yunjie/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers assembling order products at a company in the Wen County Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiaozuo City, central China's Henan Province. (Xu Hongxing/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows staff producing electronic touch-screen components at Jiangxi Jinghong Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. in Tonggu County, Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Zhou Liang/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2026 shows workers debugging intelligent agricultural micro-tillers on a production line at Chongqing Maotian Machinery Co., Ltd. in the Science City section of Beibei Economic Development Zone, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Qin Tingfu/Guangming Picture)