In 1988, a Korean-invested company named Jinxiong set up a factory in the new Xiamen Special Economic Zone, making tents, sleeping bags, and camp chairs with $27.8 million in initial investment—then one of the largest foreign manufacturing projects in the region. It was China’s first real contact with modern outdoor equipment manufacturing, and it turned Xiamen into the birthplace of China’s outdoor industry.
From ‘Two Ends Abroad’ to a Complete Ecosystem
In the early years, even tent poles, coated waterproof fabrics, and specialty zippers had to be imported—Xiamen only assembled. But the ecosystem grew up fast. Industry histories record that Jinxiong eventually became the world’s largest outdoor goods manufacturer, and at its peak its tent lines reportedly held 38% of the global market and 65% of the US import market.
That knowledge seeded a generation of local factories. Xiamen today hosts a deep bench of outdoor equipment makers—companies like Kean, Youlibo, Feipeng, Yodo, Wild Land (秋野地), and Vidalido among them—and the Xiamen RV & Camping Association counts ¥3+ billion in annual output value across member companies producing tents, camp tables, and chairs alone. National export data shows the category’s trajectory: China’s tent exports reached ¥15.6 billion in 2022, and industry research estimates China now holds over 60% of global outdoor equipment production capacity—much of it traceable to Xiamen’s OEM lineage.
Why Xiamen Still Matters for Buyers
Newer clusters have emerged, but Xiamen retains three structural advantages:
- Decades of waterproofing craft. Seam taping, coated fabrics, and hydrostatic-head testing look simple on paper and are brutally easy to get wrong in production. Xiamen’s factories have been solving these problems for 35 years.
- Full-category depth. Tents, sleeping bags, camp furniture, coolers, and awnings are all locally produced—enabling one-stop assortment building for retail programs.
- Port-native logistics. Xiamen Port is a major container gateway, and most factories here have been shipping FOB since the 1990s.
What to Source—and What to Check
- Tents and shelters: The flagship category. Specify fabric denier, PU/silicone coating, hydrostatic head (mm), and pole material (fiberglass vs. aluminum alloy 7001/7075). Ask for seam-taping inspection in your QC checklist—it’s the #1 failure point.
- Camp furniture: Xiamen’s aluminum tube bending and powder-coating ecosystem makes chairs and tables a strength, with fast custom runs.
- Sleeping bags: Check fill power claims (down) or compression ratings (synthetic) against third-party test reports.
The Domestic-Market Pivot
One sourcing nuance: post-2020, many Xiamen factories shifted toward China’s booming domestic camping market, with some reporting domestic sales now exceeding exports. The upside for foreign buyers is these factories upgraded to premium quality tiers; the watch-out is that capacity for export programs can be tight in peak season—book production slots early.
When to Visit
Xiamen hosts regular outdoor and camping industry events, and the ISPO/outdoor expos in Shanghai each winter concentrate Xiamen exhibitors. Two to three factory days on the island cover tent, furniture, and softgoods producers efficiently.
Ready to source outdoor gear from Xiamen? Explore the Xiamen outdoor & camping cluster, browse outdoor & camping products, or Submit your RFQ to get matched with audited factories.