Small town candle producers go big

In a small town of Xingtai, North China's Hebei province, candle producers have made their products popular across the country as well as multiple foreign countries and regions.

Dongwang town in Ningjin county of Xingtai - about 300 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing - has a history of nearly 70 years of producing all kinds of candles, from traditional ones that provide light to delicate ones for decorating birthday cakes.

Claiming to be the largest candle-producing base in the country, Ningjin boasts more than 40 enterprises that make candles and related products, with an annual output value reaching 1.2 billion yuan ($166 million) and annual export value topping 100 million yuan, according to the local government.

The industry has created more than 20,000 jobs for local residents who either are employees of the candle makers or operators of family shops for processing related products.