How a Chinese county known for growing chillies is now disrupting the world s diamond supply

ZHECHENG COUNTY, Henan – There is no airport and the nearest high-speed train station is an hour’s car ride away, through the vast fields of red peppers that are used to make the popular chilli crisp Lao Gan Ma.

In the heart of the sleepy county, there is just one unassuming four-storey mall, where the most well-known brands are Haidilao and Huawei. Food is cheap here – a hearty bowl of noodles costs around 10 yuan (S$1.80).

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