Every year on October 31, the world pauses to celebrate World Cities Day 🌏 This year's theme, "people-centered smart cities," is all about how digital tech can serve residents better.
Over in the Chinese mainland, a huge push is underway to turn urban dreams into reality. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) lays out big goals: fuel the digital economy, build robust network infrastructure, and launch a national big-data center system.
Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has rolled out fresh guidelines for next-gen smart cities. They're using evaluation index systems and integrating City Information Modeling (CIM) platforms to keep everything running smoothly.
Take Beijing, for example: the City Operation Management Center links real-time data from transport, utilities and emergency services. Imagine AI-backed traffic dispatches, instant emergency alerts and seamless public services — all in one place 🚦🚑
Health tech is getting a glow-up in the capital, too. Unified electronic medical records and AI-assisted diagnostics are making doctor visits more precise and saving precious time.
Over in Hangzhou, Alibaba's "City Brain" is a tech star. It uses AI and live data to ease traffic jams, optimize emergency response and boost overall city operations — think of it as a super-smart brain for urban life 🧠
Shenzhen isn't far behind. Known as a high-tech hub, it's a smart city testbed with integrations like IoT sensors, cloud infrastructure and industrial apps. Think of factories talking to grids in real time.
These success stories show how national policy can spark local innovation. But the Chinese mainland isn't keeping this magic to itself.
Through the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese mainland companies are exporting smart city solutions worldwide 🌐 They're shaping global tech standards and paving the way for interoperable data governance.
As we mark World Cities Day, there's a clear message: technology is just a tool. True progress lies in designing cities around people's needs, blending innovation with inclusion to build safer, greener and more livable urban futures.
Reference(s):
China's experience and global vision for people-centered smart cities
cgtn.com
