China's tech hub trailblazing AI-powered smart city construction

The southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen is ramping up efforts to accelerate smart city construction with measures to foster artificial intelligence (AI) industry development.

In Shenzhen, along a stretch of sidewalk are 5G-powered streetlights which are mounted with LED screens, cameras, and microphones. The poles can give out voice alerts when there is illegal parking or littering, and can keep an eye on traffic, air quality, and noise levels.

Besides, the city's subway riders don't need a metro card or phone, but their face to make a payment. And there are self-service kiosks in subway stations, which use speech recognition, AI, and biometric tech to offer assistance to passengers.

The digital transformation of infrastructure is likely to speed up in Shenzhen, as the city, which is already home to over 2,000 AI companies, announced in December 2024 a slew of measures to build itself into a pioneer city for AI.

In a recent interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), a local official elaborated on the incentives Shenzhen has launched to encourage the development of AI sector in the city.

"The new measures are all about making computing, models and data more affordable for businesses. The next step is to lower AI deployment costs across industries. For example, 'model coupons' will help save on AI models, and the government is setting aside up to 50 million RMB each year to fund scalable AI solutions. In industrial sectors, up to 100 million RMB will go towards supporting AI-driven projects. When it comes to smart products, there's strong backing for AI hardware and software, like robots, AI PCs, and wearables, with rewards of up to three million RMB for top-selling products. To help startups, small businesses will get rent exemptions for six months to three years, along with full support in computing, data, funding and talent. Plus, the government is teaming up with private capital to create a trillion-RMB AI ecosystem and a 10-billion RMB fund for AI and robotics, all while providing comprehensive support for talent," said Lin Yi, director of Shenzhen Artificial Intelligence Industry Office.

China's tech hub trailblazing AI-powered smart city construction

China's outdoor catering and camping industries see more opportunities as they have become a burgeoning trend in China during the spring season.

At a scenic area in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, a large number of tourists come every spring to enjoy the flowers and natural scenery.

This year, the scenic area has opened a hotpot-featured train among various attractions, allowing the tourists to experience the dual enjoyment of taste and scenery on the train.

"We are singing songs and enjoying the hotpot on the train. It's really satisfying and novel," said tourist Wang Xia.

At a wetland park in Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province, many residents set up tents and tea stoves to enjoy a peaceful weekend with family members and friends. This year, Xiamen has improved 12 outdoor venues to provide better public camping and leisure places for both locals and tourists.

"We come here to camp and drink tea every Saturday and Sunday," said a local resident surnamed Chen.

The rebound of outdoor camping has also driven the development of manufacturing industry of related products.

In Shenzhen Township of Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang province where nearly 80 outdoor product-related companies have gathered, the current market demand has surged and driven up the orders, according to the head of a metal product enterprise in the cluster.

The company's daily output of outdoor water bottles alone exceeds 10,000, and the annual output value of all outdoor products exceeds 100 million yuan (about 13.73 million U.S. dollars), said the company head.

"Our current orders are scheduled until July, which is about 20 percent higher than last year," said Liu Hailin, general manager of Ningbo Jinbo Metal Products Co., Ltd.

China's outdoor catering, camping see more opportunities as spring arrives