Guiyang embraces hi-tech growth

City enjoys boom in digital economy and takes advantage of the latest tech to govern

Guiyang was once jokingly called a capital city without a sense of presence, but it has disproved that view completely with the big data industry boom there.

It has now taken the lead in a race among Chinese cities with double-digit economic growth and it has become a model for second movers, as it upgrades traditional industries by using an innovation-driven path.

These were the remarks that Li Junru, former vice-president of the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, made when he gave a prize to Guiyang at a ceremony held on Dec 16.

Guiyang, capital of the province, has hosted the world's first big data-themed expo, the China International Big Data Industry Expo, four times since 2015. The event has become a world-class arena to discuss development plans and share achievements, its organizers said.

It also works as a platform for global experts, enterprises and startups in the field to communicate and network. The event serves the national big data strategy together with the World Internet Conference, which is held in Zhejiang province.

In recent years, Guiyang has seen its digital economy thrive and traditional industries upgrade faster. Early statistics showed 50 large big data companies set up in the city last year. It is now home to more than 220 such businesses.

The city plans to create 10 big data-focused areas, including a digital logistics demonstration center, and it has established a big data industry chain. Fortune Global 500 enterprises such as Intel and Foxconn have chosen to expand their operations in the city, which has attracted big data companies such as Alibaba, Huawei and JD.

Guiyang has promoted the integration of big data and the real economy (industry, the service sector and agriculture) to boost industrial digitization.

Between big data and industry, the city has developed an online service that offers industrial companies a number of ways to upgrade. Based on the online platform Guizhou Ind Cloud, it uses "big data plus intelligent manufacturing" technology to offer industrial companies guidance and solutions for improvements.

Guiyang-based XDX Materials has realized intelligent production in plants by setting up China's first commercial concrete big data management platform. It was promoted nationally last year as a demonstration project for intelligent manufacturing.

Locally based sauce brand Laoganma, famous for its chili sauces, uses big data to buy raw materials and market products. It has expanded its market, increased sales and exported to countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Guiyang also used the internet and big data to support the upgrading of tourism, commerce, finance and transport.

Based in the city, Huochebang is one of the country's largest online platforms of shipment data. It uses big data to track down car owners, cargo sources and haulage routes.

The city has also promoted the use of big data and the internet of things in farming and its products market.

Guinong.com, an e-commerce platform of agricultural products, integrated supply and marketing resources, has helped more than 500,000 impoverished rural households increase their income. Libei village in Xifeng county gave a priority to e-commerce and found a new way to generate income for residents.

Guiyang has used the "internet plus" to organize the city's fruit and vegetable production, a management information service and a safety traceability system for agricultural products. Its internet of things and big data cloud platform can collect, monitor and analyze data throughout the whole process, from production to marketing.

Tang Zhenjiang, director of the Guiyang big data development and management committee, said Guiyang has also used big data to improve people's lives. The city has promoted the application of big data in healthcare, education, tourism and providing for the elderly.

The online platform Zhuminsheng combines more than 190 government services, social services and commercial services, including employment services and registration. It has been listed as an "internet plus government affairs service" demonstration project by the National Development and Reform Commission.

The online Guiyang Healthcare Platform contains basic information of 6.03 million people in the city. It gathered more than 800 million diagnosis and treatment results from hospitals and medical institutions.

Guiyang's internet hospital recruited more than 1,000 medical experts and its mobile platform serves more than 6,000 people every day.

The city has developed regional cooperation platforms. Based on the Zhongguancun Guiyang Science and Technology Park, it has established an innovation-driven regional partnership between Beijing and Guiyang. The two cities have united on scientific and technological research and development, related infrastructure construction, resource sharing and professionals' communication.

Guiyang cooperated with countries such as the United States, Russia, India and Japan and established international institutes such as the Guizhou Berkeley Big Data Innovation Research Center.

Tang said the city plans to further support local big data companies and attract more such companies and high-tech enterprises to Guiyang. It will continue to promote the integration of big data with the real economy, rural revitalization and social governance.

songmengxing@chinadaily.com.cn