From rickety bikes to automated strollers, modernization transforms county

陈小将

A foreign businessman visits the 17th International Bicycles, Baby Strollers and Toys Fair in Pingxiang county, Hebei province, on April 12, 2024. ZHAO YONGHUI/FOR CHINA DAILY

Editor's note: In a series of reports titled "Claims to Fame", China Daily looks at how some regions have earned wealth and recognition through specific products to advance economic development.

As morning mist lingers over a residential compound, a mother places her toddler in a stroller.

After activating an auto-follow mode, the "Xiaokabu" automated smart stroller glides silently behind her like a loyal nanny, gently avoiding pebble paths and puppies.

When she crouches to wipe her child's face, the stroller halts. As she resumes walking, it follows without delay.

"It drives itself! So convenient!" an elderly person exercising nearby exclaims.

Initially skeptical about its safety, the mother had worried the stroller might wander off track. But she has been delighted to learn that it functions seamlessly and safely.

This futuristic scenario happened recently in Pingxiang county of Xingtai, a city in Hebei province — a hinterland area that produces a huge proportion of the world's strollers.

Yet the birthplace of this cutting-edge baby carrier traces its roots back to humbler beginnings.