In the 1980s, China heavily relied on imports for lighting and sound equipment. Leveraging its proximity to Hong Kong, Yifa Pedestrian Street in Panyu District, Guangzhou, gradually evolved into a trading and distribution hub for such equipment. Through repeated equipment repairs, disassembling devices, modifying circuits and replicating structures, technicians mastered the manufacturing process of such equipment by degrees. This marked the beginning ofthe Panyu lighting and sound equipment industry. Today, the industry has covered the entire chain from creativity, R&D, and manufacturing to services. In 2024, its output value exceeded 20 billion yuan, capturing over 30% of the global market share.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, half of the lighting equipment at Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, was imported. At the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, all lighting fixtures were manufactured in China, including more than ten enterprises from Panyu,and at the opening event of the 15th National Games in 2025, all stage lighting, sound, and audiovisual equipment were entirely produced by Guangdong manufacturers. These lights illuminate a leap from "made in China" to "created in China".

Behind this leap are industry leaders pioneering the way forward. Starting from a small workshop, Golden Sea has grown step by step over the past 20-plus years into a leading enterprise in the stage lighting industry, both at home and abroad. The company has been granted over 1000 intellectual properties domestically and internationally, constantly making world-class breakthroughs in the industry. Besides, dedicated to infrared sensors for 27 years, Aurolite Autotech Guangdong Ltd has developed products that can precisely detect even the slightest hand movements and subtle head gestures. As a designated contract manufacturer for Philips and Cooper Lighting Solutions, the company commanded a market share of over 30% in Europe and America at its peak.

Nowadays, Guangdong has gathered over 85% of China's stage equipment enterprises, contributing to 80% of the national industry's annual output. On a global scale, 70% of stage lighting equipment is produced in China, and 85% of it is from Guangdong.

从番禺一条街到全球大舞台，粤字号声光“智造”的逆袭与跨越

上世纪80年代，国内灯光音响设备高度依赖进口。广州番禺易发街凭借毗邻香港的优势，逐渐成为设备商贸集散地。一次次设备维修中，技术人员拆设备、改线路、仿结构，逐渐摸索出制造门道。番禺灯光音响制造业由此起步。如今，产业已覆盖创意、研发、制造、服务全链条，2024年产值突破200亿元，全球市场占有率超过30%。

从2008年北京奥运会鸟巢半数灯具进口，到2022年北京冬奥会开幕式全场灯具100%中国造、逾十家番禺企业参与其中，再到2025年的十五运会开幕式，舞台声光电等完完全全出自广东的设备厂商——这盏“灯”照见的，正是中国制造向中国智造的跨越。

跨越背后，有行业头部的引领者：浩洋股份从一间作坊工厂起步，过去20多年一步步成长为国内外专业演艺舞台灯光领域的龙头企业，拥有国内外有效知识产权超1000项，屡屡创下行内“世界领先”;奥莱敏控深耕红外感应器27年，产品做到人手微动、头部摇动都能精准感应，是飞利浦、库柏的指定代工商，高峰期在欧美市场占据30%以上份额。

如今，广东聚集了全国超85%的演艺设备相关企业，每年行业总产值占全国八成。全球70%的舞台灯光设备产自中国，其中85%来自广东。

文｜记者 孙绮曼 陈泽云
译｜黄嘉嘉
审｜盛嘉