Aside from government support, the sport’s growth in Liancheng, a small mountainous county in western Fujian, is in part due to the influence of Taiwan-invested companies.

Liancheng is an important producer of baseball equipment and in the Miaoqian region, where a number of Taiwan-invested companies are located, the production of baseball equipment developed rapidly with the industry exceeding 200 million yuan ($29 million) in output value in 2015.

In 2011, several Taiwan-invested baseball equipment producers offered baseball equipment and training sessions for young students. Through this support, as well as local government efforts, the popularity of America’s pastime has developed quickly and boasts a bright future.

An increasing number of Liancheng students are learning baseball skills as the sport’s popularity has grown in recent years. [File photo/Hxnews.com]