Shazhou village in Hunan province, where the story of "the half blanket" took place, is becoming prosperous thanks to the development of tourism. Provided To China Daily

Building on its traditional manufacturing strengths by nurturing high-tech industries, the province is spearheading the 'Made in China' blueprint

Earlier this year, China's major train manufacturer, CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, tested a new generation maglev train to see if it could reach its projected top speed of 160 kilometers per hour, about 60 percent faster than the current model.

The new medium-speed model, which was tested in Changsha, Hunan province, has 30 percent more traction and can carry an additional 6 metric tons, compared with the previous generation, said Tong Laisheng, head of the maglev research institute of CRRC Zhuzhou.

China's first medium-low-speed maglev rail line started commercial operation in Changsha in May 2016. The new model is expected to lay the foundation for the introduction of medium-speed maglev train systems, Tong said.

CRRC Zhuzhou is also developing a more advanced maglev model with a top speed of 200 km/h.

Hunan, where CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive is headquartered, rolled out an innovation-driven strategy in 2016, but is now aiming for even faster growth.

Once a less-developed province with a population of nearly 70 million, it is now spearheading the "Made in China" blueprint and striving to establish an integrated intelligent manufacturing center.