Meilong: China's Silver Jewelry Capital — An Industry Overview
In Haifeng County, Shanwei, Guangdong, there is a small town that supports a significant share of China's silver jewelry manufacturing — Meilong. Home to thousands of jewelry factories and workshops, Meilong has built a complete supply chain from raw silver to finished products, earning it the title "China's Silver Jewelry Capital."
Industry Scale
Meilong Town is located in Haifeng County, adjacent to Ketang Town — together forming the core of Shanwei's jewelry industry. According to industry statistics, Meilong and its surrounding areas host thousands of silver jewelry processing enterprises, employing tens of thousands of workers with an annual output value exceeding ten billion RMB. The silver necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings produced here are sold nationwide and exported to global markets including Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Meilong's industrial concentration is extraordinary — from a single silver ingot to a finished piece, nearly every production step can be completed within a few kilometers. This extreme vertical integration gives Meilong a hard-to-replicate advantage in cost, lead time, and flexibility.
Industry Division of Labor
Meilong's silver jewelry cluster operates with a clear division of labor:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Silver supply | Wholesale supply of silver ingots and pellets |
| Mold making | Design and production of casting and stamping molds |
| Casting | Lost-wax casting, die casting, stamping |
| Finishing | Removing sprues, trimming, reshaping |
| Soldering | Chain link welding, component assembly |
| Stone setting | Setting cubic zirconia, crystal, mother-of-pearl |
| Polishing | Magnetic polishing, manual polishing |
| Electroplating | Gold, rose gold, and white gold plating |
| QC & packaging | Full inspection, packing, shipping |
Haifeng Jewelry Environmental Protection Park
To regulate industry development and address the pollution problems caused by scattered workshops, Haifeng County planned and built the "Haifeng Jewelry Industrial Environmental Protection Park." This park centrally treats electroplating wastewater and polishing dust, driving the transformation of jewelry processing from fragmented and small-scale operations toward standardized, park-based, and green production. Enterprises in the park benefit from centralized environmental facilities and policy support — an important step toward sustainable development for the Meilong cluster.
Comparison with Other Clusters
| Cluster | Positioning | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Meilong (Shanwei) | Silver jewelry manufacturing | Silver necklaces/bracelets/rings, excellent value |
| Yiwu | Accessories wholesale | Alloy and fashion accessories, fast style updates |
| Shenzhen Shuibei | Jewelry trading | Gold, K-gold, diamonds, high-end jewelry |
| Guangzhou Panyu | Jewelry processing | Stone setting, colored gems, export |
Meilong's core strength lies in the depth and breadth of silver jewelry manufacturing — virtually any silver piece can be made here at highly competitive prices. For buyers looking to build a silver jewelry business, Meilong is the essential source.