The rehabilitation assistive device manufacturing sector is in booming development in China as a sunrise industry, with more intelligent and customized products tailor-made for people with disabilities, significantly improving the quality of their life.

At a park in Guangzhou, the capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, Zhu Junbiao, an engineer of an intelligent technology company, is testing a new generation of smart wheelchairs. By moving the head and changing the gaze, the user can control the wheelchair to move forward, backward, turn and stop.

"Previously, most wheelchairs needed to be controlled by hand. But what if some patients or individuals with disabilities are unable to use their hands? That idea prompted us to invent this product," said He Guanfeng, director of the marketing department of an intelligent technology company.

He noted that the smart wheelchair was provided to athletes and visitors at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, which opened on Monday.

The domestic market share of wheelchairs and walkers from Guangdong has reached as high as 50 percent or 60 percent, with export shares accounting for 70 percent of the national total. Wheelchairs have evolved from merely fulfilling basic mobility needs to embracing intelligence and customization.

In Foshan City of Guangdong, a company is dedicated to making wheelchairs more suitable, more comfortable and more convenient for users.

"The size is perfect for me -- neither too big nor too small. Since I go out a lot, the wheelchair can easily pass through spaces like the aisles of high-speed trains or public restrooms," said Fan Xiao, a user from Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang Province who came to Guangzhou to have her wheelchair maintained.

"In the past, high-end wheelchairs could only be imported. Even though the wheelchairs were custom-made, many still faced compatibility issues upon arrival in China. By leveraging the powerful industrial chain in the Pearl River Delta region and the rest of China, our company has accelerated the iteration of new products," said Chang Lin, manager of a wheelchair producer.

Zhang Jian, a resident of Foshan who participated in the triathlon competition at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, said he deeply feels the changes brought about by advancements in technology.

"My wheelchair is like my running shoes. The first wheelchair that I used was just a common one, which was very uncomfortable to sit in. Then I shifted to a customized wheelchair, and it feels much more tailored to my needs. I believe technology has truly improved the quality of my life," Zhang said.