Regarding “Wool Pulling in Henan”, on a certain Q&A website, someone once posted the question, “Henan doesn’t produce sheep, but why do they love eating lamb?” Later, other users pointed out that the question, “Henan doesn’t produce sheep” was incorrect.
Indeed, in the minds of many, Henan is known as a major grain-producing province and lacks vast pastures with “low grass and visible cattle and sheep,” so it shouldn’t be a significant sheep-producing region.
However, the reality is quite the opposite: the livestock industry, including sheep, in the central plains region is as prominent as grain production throughout the country.
Leaving aside the fact that the livestock industry ranks third nationwide, just focusing on sheep meat, Henan is one of the country’s five major sheep meat production regions.
In 2022, its sheep meat production reached 290,500 tons, ranking sixth nationally behind Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Hebei, Gansu, and Shandong.
Moreover, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng are the largest sheep hoof and sheep head distribution centers in the country, accounting for 70% to 80% of the national market circulation.
Dishes like lamb noodle soup, lamb stew, and lamb skewers are integrated into the daily diet of the Henan people.
Places like Zhoukou and Shangqiu, famous for their “Yudong small mountain goats,” used to have nearly every household raising sheep.
Particularly in Zhumadian’s Luyi County, farmers not only raised sheep but also turned waste into treasure, linking sheep with Chanel and Estée Lauder. This led to a new industry with an annual output value of over ten billion yuan.
- Chanel Makeup Brushes: Luoyang County, Henan, is a seemingly ordinary agricultural county in eastern Henan, more known as the birthplace of Laozi. However, its significant connection with international brands like Chanel, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, and Avon might come as a surprise.
Like many lesser-known counties in China that dominate specific global industries, Luyi County has another name – “China’s Makeup Brush City.”This title isn’t given without merit. - From “China’s Makeup Brush Township” to “China’s Makeup Brush City”: Currently, Luyi County’s makeup brush industry holds a 50% share of the national market.
Nearly 150 makeup brush enterprises are concentrated in the county, with over 1,000 supporting businesses. The entire makeup brush industry chain has an annual output value of around 13 billion yuan.
They produce 150 million high-end makeup brush sets annually, with nearly 300 million USD in export revenue.
Back in the 1990s, Luyi’s makeup brush exports accounted for over 90% of the national total. These exports were mainly directed towards developed countries like Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, amounting to an annual output value of over 3 billion yuan. - Turning Wool from Waste into a Valuable Commodity: Unlike some people’s impressions, Henan is indeed a livestock industry powerhouse. According to 2022 statistics, the annual production of pork, beef, mutton, and poultry meat in Henan ranks third in China, accounting for 7.1% of the national total.
The province produced 290,500 tons of mutton in 2022, ranking sixth in the country with a 5.53% share. There are 970,000 sheep-raising households and 1.5 million people engaged in the industry in Henan, with higher-than-average slaughter rates.
Especially in the Yudong Huaihe Plain region, where Luyi County is located, sheep farming has a strong tradition. Nearly every household used to raise sheep.
The region’s sheep meat processing and consumption are also well-known within Henan.
In this passage, the author discusses how Henan, a province with a strong agricultural identity, managed to develop unique industries and become significant players in sectors like makeup brushes and sheep meat. The text also emphasizes the potential for agricultural areas to leverage their resources to create valuable and innovative industries beyond traditional agriculture.