A passer-by examines a window display at Beijing Jinggong Red Flag Factory Co, which produces goods for China and overseas markets. [Photo/China Daily]

Beijing Jinggong Red Flag Factory Co, founded in 2001, is one of the largest flag manufacturers in China. Its products fly on flagpoles around China and are also exported to various countries including the US.

Bai Zhiyue, the factory manager, said the company is extremely careful when making national flags for foreign countries. "A 49-star American flag might cause a diplomatic incident," he said. "For the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, we produced national flags for more than 200 countries. All the flag patterns are officially authorized," he added.

Once you get the patterns right, said Bai, you can print the graphic on polyester, a common material for flags and banners, and then dye the fabric the necessary colors.

Most of the flag-making process is now automated, but workers are still involved in the color toning and stitching.

Meng Xia, a 50-year-old employee, has been stitching flags and banners for more than 30 years. She said the sewing is fairly simple and a new worker can stitch as proficiently as someone with a decade of experience after just one month. She said the work is very boring, but it pays her 23-year-old daughter's college fees.