Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but there’s something special about wooden toys for toddlers — they’re timeless, sturdy and absolutely charming. When my kids were younger, they played ...

Ye Chen, a 37-year-old Yunhe native, exemplifies this transformation. Growing up surrounded by relatives who ran wooden toy factories, Ye initially viewed the industry as low-end manufacturing.

Wooden toys, which include blocks, puzzles, trains and educational tools, only account for 5.6 percent of China's toy market in 2023, according to Zhiyan Consulting, a Chinese market research company.