China's Optic Valley taking shape in Wuhan

Reporters on the "Streaming down the Yangtze River" tour have arrived in Hubei's capital, Wuhan.

As part of their time there, the reporters have visited the East Lake Hi-tech Development Zone, a national innovation demonstration zone, which is also known as China's Optic Valley.

Wuhan's free trade zone is part of the Development Zone.

The Optic Valley Financial Harbor in the East Lake Hi-tech Development Zone, Wuhan, provincial capital of central China's Hubei Province. [Photo: Imagine China]

Our reporter Yang Guang is in Changsha with the "Streaming down the Yangtze" team. We earlier had a conversation with him on the "Beijing Hour":

1. Why is this hi-tech development zone China's Optic Valley? What specific related businesses have been covered or developed?

East Lake zone is called China's Optic Valley mainly because it gathers the most advanced optoelectronic techniques in China. This place witnessed the production of China's first optical fiber, fist optical transmission, and all optical fiber femtosecond laser. It is the domestically largest R&D base and production of optical devices. The application of the techniques has covered communication, manufacturing among other purposes.

For example the company of FiberHome is the Chinese cradle of optical telecommunication technologies. It is now one of the largest companies in China to provide solution to enterprises' or individuals' optic fiber connection demand, letting customers enjoy ultra-speed, ultra large capacity and ultra-long distance of telecommunications.

Another example is in manufacturing, the company of Raycus is China's first company that specializes in research and development and large-scale production of high-power fiber laser, which is used for all type of industrial processing, especially those needing high precision operations. China previously had no such technique so it totally depended on equipment import. But now the situation has turned around; the fiber laser devices of Raycus have been constantly exported overseas. The technique is also expected to be utilized in 3D printing.

Besides these two industries, the high-tech development zone is also the center of mobile phone panels R&D and production in China; some companies also developed mature memory chip businesses.

2. What level have enterprises of this zone reached in terms of optoelectronic development? Can you give us some examples?

Going back to optical fiber telecommunication, the company of FireHome has developed an advanced optical transmission platform that represents the world's leading level, enabling billions of people to call each other at the same time over one single optical fiber. The company's another achievement is at its broadband services; its multi-service access platform, which is available for smartphone, television and Internet to be connected simultaneously, enables movies sizing 25 gigabytes to be downloaded in just a few seconds.

Now the company has taken up over 60% of domestic market share and 25% of international market in optical fibers and cables, with the sales volume ranking the first worldwide. Its optical devices also enters into world top six in terms of sales.

The smart phone panel manufacturer China Star produces the same leveled phone displays as world leading companies like LG and Samsung. Meantime the company also has some new patent of their own, such as eye protection phone panels.

And the whole optoelectronic industry is still growing. In 2015 the companies in the industry of the development zone recorded total revenue of one trillion yuan; that is 15% growth rate year on year.