Shahe Glass: China's Core Glass Industry Cluster
Hebei Province is one of China's most important centers for glass production and processing. Among its many hubs, Shahe City in Xingtai stands out as the most influential, widely known as “China Glass City” and the country’s largest glass production and distribution base. In addition, Handan, Shijiazhuang, Hejian (Cangzhou), Yongqing, and surrounding areas have formed strong regional glass industry clusters.
1. Shahe City: China's Core Glass Industry Cluster
Shahe City began developing its glass industry in the 1980s and has since established a complete industrial chain integrating manufacturing, deep processing, and sales—earning its reputation as China Glass City.
Industry Scale
At its peak, Shahe accounted for nearly 20% of China’s flat glass output. Today, approximately one in five pieces of architectural glass used nationwide is still produced in Shahe.
Deep Processing Strength
The deep-processing rate reaches 40%, with over 1,000 product variants, including tempered glass, insulated glass, Low-E glass, mirrors, colored crystal glass, and embossed glass. Shahe produces 50% of China’s mirrors, 60% of glass sliding doors, and 85% of glass pot lids.
Intelligent Manufacturing Upgrade
The city is actively transitioning from traditional manufacturing to smart manufacturing. For example, Hebei Huihua Glass Co., Ltd. has built intelligent production lines for electronic and automotive glass, using robotic handling and real-time big data monitoring.
Market Influence
Shahe has become one of China’s key pricing centers for spot glass, glass futures, and bulk commodities.
2. Other Major Glass Production Bases in Hebei
Shahe Glass: China’s Core Glass Industry Cluster
HHG is a professional glass manufacturer and solution provider founded in 1995 in Shahe, Hebei—China's glass industry hub. With over 25 years of experience, HHG operates multiple pattern, float, and restoration glass lines, advanced processing facilities, and a 20,000㎡ warehouse, delivering high-quality glass products to global markets with strict quality control and reliable logistics.
2). Chengan County — Hebei Libao Energy-Saving Glass Base
Located in Handan City, this modern facility specializes in energy-saving glass products for architectural applications.
3). Yongnian District (Handan) — Xuyang Acid-Washed Glass Base
Based within Hebei Zhengying Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., this base focuses on acid-washed decorative glass.
4)Xinji City — Hebei Xinji Tianyu Glass Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1998 (originating from a 1971 state-owned factory), the company produces daily-use glass containers such as jars and beverage bottles, with an annual capacity of 150,000 tons.
5) Hejian City — Craft Glass Industry Cluster
Hejian is home to 259 registered craft glass enterprises, making it:
China's largest daily-use glass production base
The world's largest heat-resistant craft glass production center
Products are exported to 54 countries and regions, and a ¥10 billion glass intelligent manufacturing industrial park is under construction to establish an international craft glass hub.
3. Industry Trends and Development Directions
Green Transformation
Following environmental remediation efforts since 2013, the number of glass enterprises in Shahe has declined, accelerating the shift toward low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and high-quality development.
Technological Innovation
Companies such as Hebei Nanbo have been selected as national pilot enterprises for carbon peaking in the building materials industry, driving digitalization and intelligent manufacturing upgrades.
Clustered Development
Hebei's glass industry has formed a differentiated regional layout—Shahe focuses on architectural glass, Hejian on craft glass, and Yongqing on high-end specialty glass.
Advantages of the Deep-Processed Glass Industry in Shahe City
Shahe City has developed a nationally leading industrial cluster in deep-processed glass. Its core competitiveness lies not only in scale, but also in strong industrial-chain integration, product diversification, and continuous intelligent upgrading.
1. Comprehensive Product Portfolio with Nationally Leading Output
Shahe produces over 1,000 types of deep-processed glass, covering tempering, insulating glass, Low-E glass, colored glass, embossed glass, and coated glass. These products are widely used in construction, home furnishings, appliances, and automotive applications. Several product categories rank among the top nationwide:
Mirror glass: ~50% of national output
Glass sliding doors: ~60% of national market share
Glass pot lids: ~80–85% of national output
Energy-saving window glass: Rapidly moving toward high-end, customized solutions supporting China’s “good housing” initiative
2. Integrated Industrial Chains Driven by Leading Enterprises
Shahe has shifted from supplying semi-finished products to full finished-product manufacturing through vertically integrated industrial chains led by key enterprises:
Low-E coated glass: Led by Zichuang Glass and Rongyue Technology
Mirror glass: Driven by Zhihe Mirror Industry and Kezheng Mirror Industry
Energy-efficient windows and systems: Led by Wangmei Industry
Kitchenware and cabinet glass: Strong positions held by Jiuyue Kitchenware and Ligang Glass
Furniture and decorative art glass: Innovation driven by Saifu Glass and Caisheng Glass
This “one product, one industrial chain” model significantly increases product value and market responsiveness.
3. Policy Support and Cluster-Based Operations
Under coordinated government planning, Shahe is accelerating industrial upgrading and efficiency improvements:
Targeting a glass processing rate above 60% by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (currently ~50%)
Reallocating land, facilities, and labor released through capacity reduction to high-end production
Encouraging industrial alliances for resource sharing, specialization, and scalable customized production
Developing a high-end, zero-emission glass industrial park to optimize industrial layout
4. Technological Upgrading and Expansion of Application Scenarios
Shahe is actively expanding “glass +” applications to drive high-value growth:
Advancing energy-saving window systems aligned with the “good housing” strategy
Promoting automotive glass projects, including full-chain localization from quartz sand to finished auto glass
Integrating glass with new energy, such as photovoltaic skylights and intelligent windshields
Developing glazed glass cultural and creative products, combining manufacturing with cultural tourism
In addition, Shahe has become a national pricing center for glass spot, futures, and bulk commodity markets, strengthening its role in price discovery and trade circulation for deep-processed glass products.
3. Future Development Directions for Shahe City’s Glass Deep-Processing Industry
Shahe City's glass deep-processing industry is accelerating its transition from traditional manufacturing toward high value-added, intelligent, and green development. Looking ahead, its strategic roadmap focuses on five key directions: high-end product development, intelligent manufacturing, green transformation, application-scenario expansion, and cluster-based industrial integration.
1). Advancing Toward High-End Manufacturing and High Value-Added Products
Shahe has clearly positioned automotive glass, electronic glass, and specialty glass as priority growth segments. With the steady advancement of the Jinshi Xinyuan automotive glass project, the city aims to achieve full-chain localized production—from quartz sand to finished automotive glass—effectively filling a gap in China’s high-end automotive glass manufacturing sector.
At the same time, building on the production of Xinli automotive glass substrates, Shahe will promote the upgrade of glass products from traditional “functional components” to intelligent, interactive systems. Key development directions include ultra-lightweight glass, intelligent windshields, photovoltaic sunroofs, and integrated in-vehicle glass solutions, enhancing both technological content and market competitiveness.
2). Intelligent Manufacturing and Digital Empowerment
Shahe continues to accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of its glass production lines. By 2028, the city plans a total investment of RMB 22.05 billion to complete comprehensive upgrades across all production lines, promoting advanced technologies such as “one furnace, multiple lines” and large-scale intelligent manufacturing.
To strengthen innovation capacity, Shahe is establishing a Glass Technology Research Institute and jointly building a Glass New Materials Innovation Sub-Center, fostering deeper collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions. Meanwhile, the Shahe Glass Price Index, launched in 2023, has evolved into a nationally influential futures pricing benchmark, further consolidating Shahe’s role in market pricing, resource allocation, and industry guidance.
3). Green and Low-Carbon Transformation for Sustainable Development
Guided by China's “dual-carbon” strategy, Shahe is actively building a green, low-carbon industrial ecosystem. To date, the city has cultivated 3 national-level and 11 provincial-level green factories, while the economic development zone is applying for designation as a National Green Industrial Park.
By 2026, Shahe aims to achieve A-level environmental performance compliance for all glass production enterprises. Through the implementation of the “three concentrations” model—centralized soda ash procurement, localized quartz sand mining, and clean energy supply—unit energy consumption is expected to decline by 5%–10%, significantly reducing emissions and improving overall sustainability.
4. Expanding “Glass+” Application Scenarios and Integrating with Emerging Industries
Shahe is actively extending glass deep processing into diversified, high-growth application fields:
Glass + New Energy Vehicles: Developing intelligent cockpit glass, photovoltaic sunroofs, and integrated vehicle glass systems
Glass + Green Building: Accelerating the development of Low-E coated glass, insulating glass, and energy-efficient doors and windows to support the national “good housing” strategy
Glass + Culture, Tourism, and Creative Industries: Promoting glazed art glass, building cultural and creative brands with Shahe characteristics, and fostering industrial-tourism integration
Glass + Photovoltaics: Expanding photovoltaic glass processing capacity to capture opportunities in the new energy materials market
5. Building a “1+5” Modern Industrial System and Enhancing Cluster Competitiveness
With glass as its core industry, Shahe is constructing a “1+5” modern industrial system, integrating glass manufacturing with advanced equipment manufacturing, new materials, new building materials, healthy food, and mining and deep processing.
Through the development of shared industrial parks, the promotion of industrial alliances, and deeper specialization among enterprises, Shahe aims to achieve resource sharing, coordinated development, and stronger cluster effects, further enhancing the city’s overall industrial competitiveness and resilience.
HHG is a professional glass manufacturer and glass solution provider, including a range of tempered glass, laminated glass, textured glass, and etched glass, with more than 20 years of development. There are two production lines for pattern glass, two lines for float glass, and one line for restoration glass. Our products 80% ship to overseas. All our glass products have strict quality control and are carefully packed in strong wooden cases. Ensure you receive the finest quality glass safely in time.
More Details: www.hhglass.com
