Yangzhao is home to 22 companies and professional cooperatives engaged in lantern making, along with three lantern accessory manufacturers. Annually, they produce around 10 million pairs of lanterns — pairs traditionally symbolizing good fortune — with a total output value of 150 million yuan ($20.5 million). Lanterns provide employment for over 2,000 people in the village and surrounding areas.

Guan said that the workers in his factory are mainly local villagers. Workers are paid by the piece, and one person can produce 200 to 300 lanterns per day. Villagers engage in lantern-making during their free time from farming.