Dalang is a town of roughly 300,000 people on the northern edge of Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. It is the single densest knitwear production cluster on Earth — 30,000+ knitwear-related businesses, 10,000+ flat knitting machines, 400+ knitting-machine suppliers, and a complete yarn-to-garment supply chain within a 10-kilometre radius. If your supplier is not based in Dalang, they are almost certainly subcontracting to Dalang and adding a 20–30% markup. This page explains why Dalang matters, our position in it, and how to visit us in person.
Dalang Town — China's knitwear capital
Dalang was a quiet farming town in 1979 when China's first flat knitting machines arrived as part of the reform-era industrial opening. By 2000 it had become the largest sweater cluster in Guangdong. By 2015 it passed Prato (Italy) in production volume. Today the cluster produces ~1.8 billion sweaters per year — enough to supply roughly one sweater per year for every adult on Earth.
The numbers that matter for a brand buyer:
The density of this ecosystem is what matters. Yarn supply is local (50+ yarn mills within the radius). Knitting-machine service is local (STOLL, Shima Seiki, domestic brands all have technicians in Dalang). Linking labour is abundant. Shipping to Shenzhen / Yantian port is 90 minutes by truck. For a brand sourcing sweaters, Dalang is the single most efficient place on Earth to do it.
Our position in the Dalang cluster
Out of 30,000+ knitwear businesses in Dalang, maybe 2,000 are actual factories (the rest are trading companies, yarn dealers, machine suppliers, accessory suppliers, finishing subcontractors). Out of those 2,000 factories, only a minority offer direct English-speaking service to overseas brands at 50 pcs MOQ. That's where we fit:
Mid-size (120 workers)
Big enough to handle 10,000-piece bulk orders, small enough to care about 50-piece tests. Large Dalang factories (500+ workers) push back on small MOQs; backyard factories can't produce at consistent quality.
Direct factory, not trading company
You talk to our pattern team, QC lead, production manager — not a salesperson. Registered Guangdong entity (Dongguan Tuosheng Apparel Co., Ltd.). See how to tell the difference.
Women's, men's, kids, Christmas
Full flat-knit range. 65% women's, 20% men's, 15% kids. Seasonal Christmas capsule is our specialty for Q4 sellers. See all services.
MOQ 50 (smallest in cluster)
Most Dalang factories start at 100–300 per colour. Our 50-piece MOQ is designed specifically for brand-testing and Amazon launch. Low MOQ service.
How to visit us in Dalang
Brand buyers are welcome to visit our factory in Dalang — tour the production floor, see the showroom, review sample samples in person, discuss tech pack details. Most overseas visitors combine a Lin Sweater visit with yarn supplier visits and a trip to the Canton Fair (if timing aligns).
Visiting Dalang — what you need to know
Getting to Dalang from overseas
Option 1 (fastest): Fly into Hong Kong (HKG) → 90-minute express bus or taxi to Dongguan. Our team can arrange pickup from the Shenzhen / Hong Kong border.
Option 2 (convenient): Fly into Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) → 60-minute taxi / driver to Dalang. Our factory is 45 km from SZX airport.
Option 3: Fly into Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) → 90-minute drive south to Dalang.
Nearby accommodation
Dongguan Songshan Lake area (15–20 min drive): multiple 4-star international hotels (Hilton, Crowne Plaza, etc). Most comfortable for first-time visitors.
Dalang Town centre (5–10 min drive): local business hotels, 3-star category, closer to the factory and yarn suppliers.
Typical visit itinerary
Half-day visit: Factory tour (1.5 hrs) + showroom (45 min) + sample review with our pattern team (1 hr).
Full-day visit: Add yarn supplier visits (2 local mills) + lunch with our team + afternoon tech pack session.
WhatsApp us before visiting
Send a message on +86 138 2312 2141 at least 2–3 days before arrival. We'll confirm your visit time, arrange driver pickup if needed, and prepare samples relevant to your brief in advance.
Shipping from Dalang — export logistics
Dalang's logistics position is part of why it dominates: the two biggest container ports in southern China (Yantian Port in Shenzhen, Shekou Port in Shenzhen) are both within 90 minutes by truck. Major export routes from Dalang:
- To US West Coast: 16–20 days transit via Yantian → Long Beach or Oakland
- To US East Coast: 30–35 days via Panama Canal (Yantian → New York / Savannah)
- To UK / Europe: 28–35 days via Suez (Yantian → Rotterdam / Felixstowe)
- To Australia: 18–22 days (Yantian → Sydney / Melbourne)
- To Japan / Korea: 4–7 days (Yantian → Tokyo / Busan)
For urgent orders, air freight via Hong Kong (90 min from Dalang) or Guangzhou Baiyun gives 5–7 day door-to-door to US/EU at a significant cost premium ($4–8 per piece vs $1.50–3 sea). See our export documents guide for Incoterm options and documentation.
A walk through our Dalang factory
One-minute tour of our 5th-floor showroom — 150+ sweater styles currently in production across clients in 30+ countries:
5th-floor showroom walk · Dalang Town, Dongguan · Founded 1996
Plan a Dalang visit or request a quote
If you're planning a China sourcing trip, tell us your dates and we'll prepare relevant samples for your visit. Or send a tech pack and we'll reply within 24 hours with a quote without requiring a visit.