Wang Tianyu
Nestled in the southwest of China is a land shaped by mountains, where rugged peaks stretch as far as the eye can see.
That’s Guizhou Province.
Once considered one of China’s poorest provinces with inaccessible geography, the province is now at the heart of the country’s digital revolution.
The turning point came in 2012, when Guizhou set out to build China’s first national big data comprehensive pilot zone.
With a commitment to digital infrastructure, the province has since become a national leader in computing power, housing some of the country’s most powerful data centers, such as those of China Mobile, Tencent and Apple. These centers drive everything from artificial intelligence (AI) development to smart cities, transforming China’s digital economy in profound ways.
Guizhou’s rise is driven by several key factors.
First, the province’s natural climate is ideal for data centers: cooler temperatures reduce the need for energy-intensive cooling, while abundant green electricity from hydropower keeps costs low. This has made Guizhou a favored destination for companies seeking a sustainable, cost-efficient place to house their digital infrastructure.
Second, Guizhou benefits from the national “East Data, West Computing” initiative, which aims to shift data processing from the eastern coastal regions to the more affordable, resource-rich west. The move not only saves on energy and land costs but also reduces the risks posed by natural disasters, with Guizhou’s relatively stable seismic conditions making it an attractive choice for data storage and computing.
“We have been using our supercomputing power to support rendering for over 160 movies since 2020,” said Li Beihong, chairman of Guian New Area Sci-tech Innovation Industry Development Co. Ltd., which provides movie rendering services. “Studios in east China rely on Guizhou’s supercomputers to render massive movie scenes using cloud-based rendering.”
In the past decade, Guizhou has built a complete talent ecosystem – from university partnerships to training programs – ensuring people can work locally instead of migrating to big cities.
This is what China’s high-quality development looks like in practice: industrial upgrading, developing talent and creating new opportunities close to where people live.
Guizhou has gone from isolation to innovation; from poverty to productivity.
According to the local government, by the end of 2020, Guizhou had lifted about 9.23 million people out of poverty, the largest number among all Chinese provinces.
And between 2014 and 2024, Guizhou’s average disposable income jumped 130 percent from 12,371 yuan ($2,010) per year in 2014 to nearly 28,561 yuan ($3,912) in 2024. This rate of growth outpaced the national average during the same period.
Guizhou’s story is a powerful illustration of China’s commitment to high-quality development: a shift away from numbers-based growth towards innovation, sustainability and social welfare. The province’s rise reflects a nationwide effort to harness natural advantages, invest in cutting-edge technology and build a more balanced, inclusive economy for the future.
