The China Yunhe (wood toy) intellectual property rights rapid protection center was recently approved by the China National Intellectual Property Administration, local media reported.

The wood toy industry in Yunhe county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – has reportedly been developing rapidly in recent years and with it has come a flurry of related patents.

Last year, 1,312 new patent applications were made and 2,020 patents were granted in Yunhe, most of which came from the wood toy sector.

The approval of the IPR protection center is expected to mobilize moves for the protection of original wood toy products made there, according to officials.