Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — China’s Shengyuan Carpet Group, based in Xining, the administrative centre of Qinghai Province, has turned traditional Tibetan carpet weaving into an export-oriented business, combining handmade carpets with industrial production for hotels, casinos, cruise ships, airports and other premium commercial venues.
The company’s products are supplied to more than 40 countries and regions, while annual sales have exceeded 100 million yuan.
Founded in 2007, Shengyuan Carpet Group, also known as SYG Carpet, is headquartered in Xining, one of the centres of Tibetan carpet production. According to information on the company’s website, its corporate structure includes three subsidiaries, a holding company and branches in Beijing and New York. Its workforce exceeds 500 employees.
Shengyuan describes itself as the largest woven-carpet manufacturer in western China and says its brand ranks among the country’s top 10 carpet brands.
Its product range includes hand-knotted Tibetan carpets, handmade tufted carpets, machine-woven Axminster carpets and custom-made carpet coverings.
The company’s main distinguishing feature is its combination of two production models. It preserves the labour-intensive tradition of Tibetan hand weaving while using modern machinery to fulfil large-scale commercial orders.
This approach enables Shengyuan to serve customers seeking traditional-style carpets as well as developers requiring durable floor coverings for large areas, manufactured to specific designs and technical requirements.
The company controls much of its production chain in-house, from wool spinning and dyeing to weaving, tufting and finishing. This vertical integration allows it to tailor colours, patterns and technical specifications to the needs of hotel clients and operators of public spaces.
Tibetan heritage is central to the brand’s identity. Shengyuan uses wool from Qinghai sheep and yaks, draws on traditional Tibetan patterns and develops contemporary designs inspired by Qinghai Lake, the Kunlun Mountains, snow leopards, pastoral life and regional landmarks.
The company has gained particular recognition for its expensive, custom-made carpets supplied to venues serving international audiences. According to China Daily Hong Kong, its products have been associated with Dubai International Airport, Carnival cruise ships, hotels in Las Vegas and other hotels, casinos and commercial complexes.
Hand-knotted Tibetan carpets remain the company’s flagship products linked to its cultural heritage. Producing one square metre of a fully handmade carpet can take a craftsperson about a year, with prices reaching 50,000–60,000 yuan per square metre.
For its premium handmade carpets, Shengyuan uses yarn approximately one-eighth the thickness of traditional Tibetan carpet yarn, China Daily Hong Kong reported. The company’s colour library contains nearly 40,000 shades.
In 2023, Shengyuan was recognised as a national demonstration base for the productive preservation of intangible cultural heritage. The designation was linked to the traditional Tibetan carpet-weaving technique practised in Jiaya village in Xining.
Alongside its handmade production, the company operates industrial facilities for Axminster weaving. According to an industry catalogue, it has 10 high-speed Axminster looms capable of working with 16 colours simultaneously, as well as standard looms. Its annual production capacity is estimated at approximately 1.8 million square metres.
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has reported that Shengyuan combines artificial intelligence and industrial weaving technologies with traditional craftsmanship. This approach enables the company to improve production efficiency while retaining the decorative and cultural characteristics of its products.
Annual sales have exceeded 100 million yuan, and the company exports carpets to the Middle East, Europe, North America, Australia and Japan. According to available data, the United States accounts for approximately 60–70% of sales.
Shengyuan also serves as a major local employer and provides opportunities for people to learn traditional carpet-making skills.
China Daily Hong Kong reported that more than 200 of the company’s workforce of over 300 employees are residents of surrounding villages, including members of the Tibetan and Tu ethnic groups. Approximately half of these employees have learned hand-weaving skills.
Shengyuan’s business model therefore combines the preservation of Tibetan craftsmanship, industrial-scale manufacturing, supplies for prominent international venues and employment opportunities for rural communities in Qinghai.
