Introduction
China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of activewear, accounting for over 40% of global production share. Behind this dominance lies a mature industrial cluster system and well-established supply chain. However, China is vast, and different regions have distinctly different strengths. Choosing the wrong region can lead to increased production costs, delivery delays, or even failure to meet product quality standards.
This guide will help you quickly understand the real situation in China’s 4 core activewear manufacturing hubs—Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu—so you know which products should be made where, which orders suit which region, and how to find suppliers that best match your needs.
Executive Summary
China’s activewear manufacturing industry is primarily concentrated in four core regions: Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu. Guangdong excels in large-scale production and export support, Fujian specializes in functional fabrics and professional sportswear, Zhejiang dominates with seamless garment technology and rapid response, while Jiangsu is renowned for its complete supply chain and high-end textile technology. Choosing the right region can significantly optimize your supply chain efficiency, reduce procurement costs, and shorten delivery times.
Chapter 1: In-Depth Analysis of the 4 Core Regions
1.1 Regional Overview Comparison
Region | Core Advantages | Specialty Products | Representative Cities | Suitable Orders | Typical MOQ |
Guangdong | Large-scale production Complete export support Rapid innovation | Comprehensive activewear Yoga wear Custom garments | Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen | Large quantities Export-oriented | Flexible, depends on style |
Fujian | Functional fabrics Strong R&D Rich brand experience | Professional sportswear Outdoor gear Functional activewear | Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang | Mid-to-high-end High technical requirements | 800 pcs/style 600 pcs/color |
Zhejiang | Leading seamless technology E-commerce ready Quick response | Seamless activewear Sports bras Yoga pants | Yiwu, Hangzhou, Haining | Small batches Fast fashion | 50-100 pcs minimum (quick-turn factories) |
Jiangsu | Complete supply chain High-end technology Stable quality | Premium activewear Blended fabrics Export excellence | Suzhou, Nantong, Wuxi | Mid-to-high-end Quality-first | Medium MOQ |
1.2 Guangdong: The Leader in Large-Scale Production
Guangdong has numerous sportswear manufacturers and is China’s largest sportswear manufacturing base. Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen are the three major centers. Guangzhou is the design and R&D hub, ideal for custom design and rapid sampling. Dongguan is the production powerhouse, where large factories can reach monthly production capacities of hundreds of thousands of pieces. Shenzhen focuses on high-end markets and is more aggressive in adopting new technologies.
Guangdong has a mature logistics network and port facilities, with Shenzhen’s Yantian Port and Guangzhou’s Huangpu Port forming the nation’s largest container port cluster. As of 2025 reference prices (subject to real-time market fluctuations), shipping costs from China to the US are approximately $2,500-$3,200 per 20ft container and $4,000-$5,500 per 40ft container.
Guangdong is particularly suitable for large-volume orders (over 10,000 pieces), export-oriented businesses, and customers needing diverse product styles with one-stop procurement. You can find quality suppliers here for comprehensive activewear, yoga wear collections, and casual sportswear.
1.3 Fujian: The Technical Powerhouse for Functional Fabrics
Fujian specializes in synthetic fiber fabric production, particularly in outdoor sportswear, activewear, and functional fabrics. Anta was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Jinjiang, Fujian; Xtep was established in 1987 in Quanzhou and has over 7,500 retail outlets. These local brands have nurtured numerous professional supply chain companies and also manufacture for international brands like Nike and Adidas.
Fujian can provide professional functional fabric solutions: moisture-wicking quick-dry technology, waterproof breathable fabrics, antibacterial and odor-resistant fabrics, and elastic compression fabrics. Coastal factories in Fujian specialize in custom activewear and swimwear, with typical minimum order quantities (MOQ) of 800 pieces per style and 600 pieces per color.
Jinjiang has the most mature supply chain with concentrated sports brands; Quanzhou is more dynamic in innovative design; Xiamen serves as the export gateway with the highest level of internationalization and strictest quality standards. When your products require professional functional fabrics and target mid-to-high-end markets, Fujian should be your first choice.
1.4 Zhejiang: Synonymous with Seamless Technology and Quick Response
Yiwu is China’s main production area for seamless garments, accounting for 90% of Zhejiang Province’s seamless production capacity and 70% nationwide. Yiwu has over 2,200 seamless knitting machines, establishing numerous knitting manufacturers focused on hosiery and seamless apparel.
Yiwu’s seamless garments have evolved from simple one-piece forming to advanced techniques like 3D stereoscopic knitting and localized functional knitting. Hangzhou is known for design innovation and rapid sampling. Haining’s Xucun Town is a textile fabric manufacturing center, where Zhejiang Tianxi Textile has established long-term partnerships with brands like Adidas, Decathlon, and Anta.
Sampling typically takes 7-15 days, with bulk production requiring 30-60 days. MOQs from Alibaba platform suppliers range from 150 to 1,000 pieces (2025 data). Many Zhejiang factories, especially those focused on small-batch quick-turn production, can go as low as 50-100 pieces MOQ.
Zhejiang particularly excels in seamless sports bras and activewear, seamless leggings and yoga pants, body-shaping activewear, and functional sports socks. It’s ideal for customers needing small-batch market testing, fast-fashion brands requiring quick response, and cross-border e-commerce businesses needing flexible restocking.
1.5 Jiangsu: The Full Supply Chain Exemplar Where Quality Reigns
Jiangsu has over 70 production chains, far exceeding other regions nationwide in terms of number, scale, and specialization. Jiangsu’s renowned industrial clusters include: Changshu garments, Jiangyin wool textiles, Wujiang silk, Zhangjiagang sweaters, Changzhou Wujin weaving, and Nantong Dieshiqiao home textiles.
Jiangsu factories generally maintain stricter quality requirements, and many factories serving international major brands are located in Jiangsu. Suzhou is a high-end textile technology R&D center, Nantong’s home textile industry has driven the entire textile supply chain upgrade, Wuxi is a chemical fiber production base, and Wujiang is famous for silk and high-grade blended fabrics. Yongli Textile was founded in 1996 in Jiangsu, with annual exports exceeding $95 million.
Jiangsu is suitable for premium blended activewear, export orders with strict quality requirements, products requiring special fabric treatments, and strategic long-term partnership orders. While prices are usually not the lowest, when considering quality stability, defect rates, and delivery accuracy, the total cost is often more favorable.
1.6 Beyond the Four Core Regions, Are There Other Options?
The Northeast region also achieved steady growth in 2024: textile and apparel exports from Heilongjiang and Jilin grew 25.1% and 16.1% year-over-year respectively. The main advantage of emerging regions is lower labor costs, suitable for basic styles with low technical requirements, large order volumes, and less stringent delivery deadlines.
However, note that: supply chain support is relatively incomplete, skilled worker reserves are insufficient, and logistics lead times are relatively longer. Recommended strategy: First establish stable supply relationships in the four core regions, and once your business matures, consider transferring some basic styles to emerging regions to reduce costs.
Chapter 2: How to Quickly Match the Most Suitable Region
After understanding each region’s strengths, here’s the key question: When facing specific orders, how do you make the right choice quickly? We’ve developed a three-step decision framework to help you lock in the most suitable region within 5 minutes:
Step 1: Lock in Regional Options Based on Product Type
Product technical requirements are the most important decision factor (refer to the table in Chapter 1, Section 1.1):
Product Type | Recommended Region | Core Reason |
Seamless product lines (sports bras, leggings, T-shirts, tanks) | Yiwu, Zhejiang | 70% of national capacity, 2,200+ machines |
Functional/outdoor products (professional sportswear, outdoor gear, swimwear) | Xiamen/Quanzhou, Fujian | Leading functional fabric technology, rich OEM experience |
Comprehensive activewear (yoga wear, training wear, casual sportswear) | Guangzhou/Dongguan, Guangdong | Complete supply chain, large-volume cost advantages |
High-end custom products (blended fabrics, custom garments) | Suzhou, Jiangsu or Guangzhou, Guangdong | Strong fabric R&D (Jiangsu) / Quick design (Guangdong) |
Body-shaping activewear, functional sports socks | Yiwu, Zhejiang | Mature seamless knitting technology |
Step 2: Screen Factories Based on Order Volume
Important Note: Select factories within the region determined in Step 1. Product type is the primary decision factor and should not be changed for order volume advantages. For example, even if your order reaches 50,000 pieces, if it’s a seamless product, you should still choose Zhejiang over Guangdong.
Within your target region, match appropriate factory types based on your order volume:
Order Volume & Factory Matching:
- 50-500 pieces: Zhejiang small-batch quick-turn factories (MOQ 50-100 pieces)
- 500-3,000 pieces: Standard Zhejiang factories, some Fujian factories
- 3,000-15,000 pieces: Medium-to-large factories in all regions
- 15,000+ pieces: Large factories in all regions, Guangdong’s scale advantages particularly notable
Note: Typical MOQ for Fujian factories is 800 pieces/style, 600 pieces/color. Jiangsu and Guangdong have relatively flexible MOQs.
Step 3: Select Factory Tier Based on Quality Positioning
Within your matched region and order volume range, choose based on target market:
- High-end market: Select factories with strongest technology and strictest quality control in the region (prioritize Suzhou, Jiangsu and Xiamen, Fujian)
- Mid-range market: Balance quality and cost (mid-tier factories in all regions work)
- Value-oriented: Basic styles in large volumes, prioritize large-scale factories in Dongguan, Guangdong
Decision Examples
Case 1: Seamless yoga pants, 2,000 pieces, mid-range market
- Step 1: Seamless product → Yiwu, Zhejiang
- Step 2: 2,000 pieces → Standard factories acceptable
- Step 3: Mid-range market → Select mid-tier factory
- Conclusion: Mid-tier seamless factory in Yiwu, Zhejiang
Case 2: Functional running apparel, 8,000 pieces, high-end market
- Step 1: Functional product → Fujian
- Step 2: 8,000 pieces → Moderate order volume
- Step 3: High-end market → Technology-leading factory
- Conclusion: High-end functional fabric factory in Xiamen, Fujian
Case 3: Basic regular T-shirts (non-seamless), 50,000 pieces, value-oriented
- Step 1: Comprehensive activewear → Guangdong
- Step 2: 50,000 pieces → Large volume
- Step 3: Value priority → Large-scale factory
- Conclusion: Large-scale factory in Dongguan, Guangdong
Note: If these were seamless T-shirts, even for large volumes, you should still choose Yiwu, Zhejiang.
Chapter 3: Avoiding 5 Common Pitfalls
When selecting regions, many buyers fall into these traps, leading to increased costs or delivery delays:
Pitfall 1: Only Looking at Quotes, Ignoring Total Cost
Low unit price doesn’t equal low total cost. You need to consider defect rates, opportunity costs from delivery delays, and time costs of rework. When selecting suppliers, focus on indicators like on-time delivery rate, customer repurchase rate, and quality stability.
Pitfall 2: Thinking Large Orders Can Only Go to Guangdong
Jiangsu and Zhejiang’s textile exports grew 8.7% and 7.4% year-over-year respectively in 2024, with continuously improving capacity and competitiveness. Jiangsu has over 70 complete production chains, and Yiwu, Zhejiang has over 2,200 seamless knitting machines. In their respective specialties, these regions’ large-scale production capabilities rival Guangdong. Particularly:
- Large seamless orders → Yiwu, Zhejiang (equipment and technical advantages)
- Large functional product orders → Fujian (specialized fabric technology)
- Large high-end custom orders → Jiangsu (strict quality control)
Pitfall 3: Assuming All of Zhejiang Can Do Seamless
Yiwu accounts for 70% of national seamless production capacity. While other cities also have equipment, they’re not on the same level in terms of scale and technology. If you need high-quality seamless products, go directly to Yiwu. Haining focuses on functional fabrics, Hangzhou excels in design innovation—each has its own focus.
Pitfall 4: Ignoring Supporting Supply Chains
Fabric supply is crucial. Wujiang, Jiangsu and Keqiao, Shaoxing, Zhejiang are China’s largest fabric markets. Factories near these areas have advantages in fabric procurement costs and efficiency.
Pitfall 5: Blindly Choosing Emerging Regions to Save Costs
While emerging regions have lower labor costs, they lack complete supply chain support, have insufficient skilled workers, and longer logistics lead times. Suitable for basic styles and long lead-time orders; use caution for complex processes.
Chapter 4: Practical Procurement Recommendations
Inspection Timing & Trade Shows
Spring (March-May) is the new product development season, and fall (September-November) is the slow season when factories have better reception capacity. Avoid the period around Chinese New Year (January-February) and summer heat (July-August). Important trade shows: Yiwu Knitting Machinery and Hosiery Exhibition (June annually), China International Textile Fabrics and Accessories Exhibition (spring and fall, Shanghai).
Factory Audit Key Points
Production capacity: Does workshop size match worker count? Different product categories require specialized sewing lines. Equipment age and maintenance status. Quality control: Are incoming inspection, in-process inspection, and finished product inspection procedures complete? Sampling standards should reference AQL 2.5. Compliance: Labor rights protection, environmental emission standards, fire safety facilities.
Logistics Solutions
Major export ports: Guangdong’s Shenzhen Yantian Port and Guangzhou Huangpu Port; Fujian’s Xiamen Port and Fuzhou Port; Zhejiang’s Ningbo-Zhoushan Port; Jiangsu’s Nanjing Port, Nantong Port, and Zhenjiang Port.
Logistics lead times and costs (2025 reference prices, subject to market fluctuations): Ocean freight from China to US approximately $2,500-$3,200 per 20ft container, $4,000-$5,500 per 40ft container, West Coast 18-25 days, East Coast 28-35 days. Choosing factories near ports can save inland transportation time and costs.
Conclusion & Action Steps
China’s four core activewear manufacturing regions each have distinct characteristics: Guangdong suits large-volume export orders, Fujian suits functional products, Zhejiang suits seamless garments and small-batch quick-turn orders, and Jiangsu suits high-end quality orders.
In 2024, China’s total cumulative exports of textiles, apparel, and accessories reached $301.1 billion, a year-over-year increase of 2.79%, demonstrating continued industry strength. Choosing the right region is the first step to success.
As a professional activewear manufacturer, we can provide you with: free region matching consultation, rapid sampling services (7-15 day sample delivery), and the latest 2025 procurement guide. Contact us and let professional regional selection become the first step in optimizing your supply chain.
Quick response • Professional design support • Competitive wholesale pricing