"Working and living here is truly wonderful. I love Xingsha!" These words come from a tall Italian man with deep, expressive eyes. On the morning of May 29, in the office of Changsha First Production Mechanical Components Co., Ltd. (FPMC) on Panpan Road, in the Quantang Neighborhood in Changsha County, General Manager Stefano Bottiglieri smiled as he shared his story with this land in fluent Chinese.

FPMC is a foreign-invested enterprise specializing in manufacturing high-precision mechanical components. The headquarters of the company is in Italy, with a history of 72 years. FPMC's main products, including flywheels, engine belts, and wheel hubs, have not only established a strong foothold in the domestic market but also have been exported overseas. The overseas sales account for 70% of total output. The company has earned numerous prestigious qualifications, including designation as a national-level high-tech enterprise and as a provincial specialized and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). 

FPMC General Manager Stefano (1st, L) and Deputy General Manager Wang Mi discuss work in the office.

Choosing Xingsha for Its Tangible Warmth

The story began in 2011. That year, FPMC's parent company decided to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in China, choosing downtown Changsha as its first location. By 2017, due to the need to expand production, the company team ultimately settled on the Quantang Neighborhood, after a series of "meticulous" site visits.

Stefano's connection with China began in 2016, and he lived in the country for four years before returning to Italy for work in 2020. In August 2025, he arrived back in Changsha County to serve as FPMC General Manager, assuming full responsibility for the operations of the company in China.

Initially, the company had only about 40 employees and just over 3,000 square meters of workshop space. Today, it has over a hundred employees, and the factory area has expanded to 9,500 square meters. In 2021, the company's revenue exceeded 100 million yuan for the first time, soaring to 120 million yuan by 2025. Over nine years, this wholly foreign-owned enterprise has thrived here.

Behind this process lies a series of heartwarming stories. Deputy General Manager Wang Mi recalled the deadlock years ago with property owners over repeated negotiations to install a dedicated transformer to meet increasing production electricity demands. Administrative staff from the Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Quantang Neighborhood visited the site time and again, patiently mediating, until the problem was finally solved.

When applying for status of a "specialized and sophisticated SME" and a high-tech enterprise, the enterprise liaison service team proactively offered doorstep guidance and support throughout the entire process. Today, FPMC's workshop has also been recognized as a provincial-level intelligent manufacturing workshop, marking the company's leading position in intelligent development within the industry in the province.

Stefano (1st, L) follows up on order fulfillment progress at the workshop.

Living in Xingsha, An Italian Family's Daily Life

When he came to China again in 2025, Stefano was not alone. He brought his wife, Andreea Tamas, along with their son and daughter, and made their home by Songya Lake.

His wife is his colleague, working in the company's sales department. His curiosity about Chinese culture had already turned into action as he attends Chinese classes twice a week. Now, his Chinese proficiency has greatly improved. Additionally, he enrolled his five-year-old son in a Chinese-language kindergarten near their home. "My son says, 'I've made many friends. It's even more fun than Italy,'" Stefano recounted with a smile.

When it comes to daily life, his tone becomes even more relaxed. "What I appreciate most about Changsha County is, first, the convenience—supermarkets, parks, and fitness facilities are all within a 15-minute living circle. Second, the human touch: people here are warm but respectful of boundaries and very friendly to foreigners."

Over time, Stefano and his wife have grown fond of Hunan cuisine. His favorites are stir-fried pork with chili pepper and stir-fried eggplant. In his spare time, he plays basketball and works out, occasionally organizing a game with colleagues or hitting the gym. On weekends, he takes his family for walks around Songya Lake. As an avid traveler, he has already visited many cities, including Zhangjiajie and Sanya.

"In Italy, building trust might take some time; here, colleagues will directly invite me to their homes for dinner, go camping together, teach me Chinese, and show me how to cook. My wife and I have also gotten used to online shopping, ordering takeout, and riding shared electric bikes. This process of integration itself is very interesting," he said.

As FPMC's pace of development accelerates daily, Stefano is rapidly integrating into Xingsha.

Staying in Xingsha, Home Is Where the Heart Finds Peace

FPMC continues to accelerate its growth. This year, the company plans to expand its factory area to 12,000 square meters, while adding production lines and expanding its team, with year-end revenue projected to exceed 150 million yuan.

"I didn't travel thousands of miles just for work. What truly attracted me is the immense development potential here, as well as the livability and convenience of the area," Stefano said. "The company will take root in Xingsha, and I also plan to stay here for the long term."

For foreign friends considering working or living in Changsha County, he offers his advice: "The environment here is comfortable, supporting facilities are complete, transportation is convenient, and life here is easier than you could ever imagine. Learning a little Chinese will be very useful, even if you have to rely on gestures to communicate at first." He also expressed a hope: "If Changsha County could have more bilingual signage and more service windows for foreigners, it would be even more perfect."

In the Quantang Neighborhood, this Italian company and its Italian executive have demonstrated through their actions that a good business environment allows companies to grow with confidence and but also makes foreign talent "want to stay once they arrive"; and that a high sense of well-being is hidden in every trivial yet warm daily routine.

"We won't bother you unless necessary, but we'll always be there when you need us"—this is Changsha County's unwavering commitment to supporting businesses. In recent years, Changsha County's golden brand of "In Xingsha, Everything is Best" has been polished ever brighter. A market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment is attracting an increasing number of foreign-invested enterprises and talent to take root in Xingsha and build a shared future, thanks to its faster pace, warmer service, and richer human touch.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan