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A specialized certificate for live-streaming hosts who sell pearls is granted in Zhuji, Shaoxing. [Photo/Guo Bin for Zhejiang Daily]

In a significant development for the Chinese pearl industry, 54 pearl live-streaming hosts in Zhuji, Shaoxing, received the country's first Pearl Live-streaming Special Skills Certificate on March 23.

The certificate, designed specifically for pearl live-streaming, was awarded by the Zhejiang Pearl Industry Association.

Located in Zhuji, Shanxiahu town is a major producer of freshwater pearls in China, accounting for 80 percent of the country's output.

In 2022, Shanxiahu's pearl industry achieved sales of over 40 billion yuan ($5.82 billion), with live-streaming sales accounting for more than 25 billion yuan, representing a 15-percent increase over the previous year.

Shanxiahu currently boasts two Douyin live-streaming bases, with over 3,000 hosts and more than 25,000 people employed in the pearl industry.

Research reports have shown that the pearl live-streaming industry faces multiple challenges, including exaggeration, false advertising, fake traffic, and the sale of counterfeit products.

"Standardizing live-streaming will benefit businesses, consumers, and the entire Shanxiahu pearl industry," said Yu Lingjun, Party chief of Shanxiahu town.