The drama Zhang Jian - The Legendary Entrepreneur, which chronicles the life of Nantong-born Zhang Jian (1853-1926), one of the most influential industrialists and educators in modern China, premiered on Central China Central Television's flagship channel about two weeks ago.

Zhang had deep ties to the cotton sector of Hai'an, a county-level city of Nantong. The story dates back to 1895, when Zhang founded Dasheng Cotton Mills. To secure raw materials, he reclaimed coastal wasteland in Haian for cotton cultivation. He transformed these saline-alkali lands into high-quality cotton fields, reducing the region's reliance on imported cotton.

For his shared vision with Zhang of revitalizing the nation through industry, Han Guojun, a close friend of Zhang, established a sericulture institute in Hai'an in the 1920s, introducing thousands of fine mulberry saplings. This effort laid the groundwork for Hai'an's silk industry.

In 1966, Qutang town built the county's first silk-processing plant, with more popping up in other towns. By the late 1980s, Hai'an's silk industry ranked among the top in Nantong.

Robotic arms work on a tie-dyeing production line at Hai'an-based Huayi Group. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Today, Hai'an's textile industry is embracing intelligent upgrading and digital transformation.

Huayi Group, a local powerhouse, launched the world's first AI-powered robotic tie-dyeing line in 2024, which now has an annual output of about 1 million pieces. At Lianfa Textile, factories have been equipped with a smart platform powered by digital twins, AI, and the Internet of Things, which covers everything from R&D and production to quality control and warehousing.