How a Rural County Built China’s Dominant Copy‑Printing Empire

Abstract

This paper examines the life‑history of Newhua County’s copy‑printing industry through personal narratives of workers in Beijing’s university copy market, arguing that the industry’s formation is tightly linked to local social structures and culture, and has followed a ladder‑type developmental trajectory.

Keywords

Newhua phenomenon; industry chain; life‑history; ladder development

Background

Newhua County, a sparsely populated agricultural area in Hunan, has long relied on “technology to supplement agriculture.” In the 1960s, brothers Yi Dai Xing and Yi Dai Yu acquired typewriter‑repair skills, which later evolved into a nationwide copy‑printing network employing nearly 200,000 people and capturing about 85% of China’s copy market.

Research Methods

A mixed quantitative‑qualitative approach was used. From November 2006 to September 2007, random sampling of 56 undergraduate institutions in Beijing yielded 85 copy shops, of which 55 were operated by Newhua workers (65% market share). Deep interviews were conducted with 56 individuals, including operators in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and other cities, as well as historic figures from Tianjin, Nanjing, and Handan.

Findings

1. Flow‑Repair of Mechanical Typewriters

Early entrepreneurs repaired typewriters while traveling, learning mechanics through hands‑on experience. Illegal practices such as forging seals and letters were common until the late 1970s, when local authorities legalized a repair factory in Newhua.

2. Flow‑Repair of Copy Machines

After mastering typewriter repair, pioneers like Long San Yuan learned copier maintenance from Japanese and American equipment in the 1980s, spreading knowledge rapidly within the community. This phase peaked in the 1990s before the market contracted due to manufacturer warranties.

3. Copy‑Shop Phase

Starting in 1986, former repairmen opened small copy shops, later expanding into full‑service printing stores and, for some, graphic‑design studios. The proliferation of second‑hand copiers fueled rapid growth of a nationwide shop network.

4. Second‑Hand Copier Market

Discovery of Taiwanese sources in 1992 enabled large‑scale import of used copiers. Entrepreneurs bought, refurbished, and resold machines across China, creating a robust professional market that later shifted to sourcing directly from Japan and the United States.

5. Office‑Equipment Manufacturing

Post‑2003, capital‑rich Newhua businessmen began producing office equipment, such as photo‑printers and binding machines, turning the industry from a repair‑trade to a manufacturing sector with exports to over 40 countries.

Conclusion

The Newhua copy‑printing industry exemplifies a ladder‑type development driven by continuous technology adoption, profit incentives, and strong kinship‑based social networks. Its evolution from informal repair to formal manufacturing illustrates how local social structures can shape and sustain a dominant national industry.

References

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