China's poorest province: Guizhou is on the rapid rise

[JSCh]

Virtual reality boom brings giant robots, cyberpunk castles to China
Reuters 10:17 UTC+8, 2017-11-24

Reuters
A view of the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park at sunset, in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

Giant robots and futuristic cyberpunk castles rise out of lush mountain slopes on the outskirts of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.

Welcome to China's first virtual reality theme park, which aims to ride a boom in demand for virtual entertainment that is set to propel tenfold growth in the country's virtual reality market, to hit almost $US8.5 billion by 2020.

The 330-acre (134-hectare) park in southwestern Guizhou province promises 35 virtual reality attractions, from shoot-'em-up games and virtual rollercoasters to tours with interstellar aliens of the region's most scenic spots.

"After our attraction opens, it will change the entire tourism structure of Guizhou province as well as China's southwest," Chief Executive Chen Jianli told Reuters.

"This is an innovative attraction, because it's just different," he said in an interview at the park, part of which is scheduled to open next February.

The $US1.5-billion Oriental Science Fiction Valley park, is part of China's thrust to develop new drivers of growth centred on trends such as gaming, sports and cutting-edge technology, to cut reliance on traditional industries.

Reuters
A worker rides on a cart in front of a giant robot statue at the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

In the push to become a centre of innovative tech, Guizhou is luring firms such as Apple Inc, which has sited its China data centre there, while the world's largest radio telescope is in nearby Pingtang county.

The park says it is the world's first of its kind, although virtual reality-based attractions from the United States to Japan already draw interest from consumers and video gamers seeking a more immersive experience.

The Guiyang park will offer tourists bungee jumps from a huge Transformer-like robot, and a studio devoted to producing virtual reality movies. Most rides will use VR goggles and motion simulators to thrill users.

"You feel like you're really there," said Qu Zhongjie, the park's manager of rides. "That's our main feature."

China's virtual reality market is expected to grow tenfold to 55.6 billion yuan ($US8.4 billion) by the end of the decade, state-backed think-tank CCID has said.

Farmers in the nearby village of Zhangtianshui said they were concerned about pollution from big developments, but looked forward to the economic benefits a new theme park would bring. Most were less sure about virtual battles or alien invasions, though.

"There are lots of good things that come out of these projects," one farmer, Liu Guangjun, told Reuters. "As for the virtual reality, I don't really understand it."

Reuters
A staff member demonstrates a test-run of the virtual reality (VR) attraction "Explore the Stars", at the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

Source: Reuters Editor: Wang Qingchu


Virtual reality boom brings giant robots, cyberpunk castles to China

 

[AndrewJin]

Virtual reality boom brings giant robots, cyberpunk castles to China
Reuters 10:17 UTC+8, 2017-11-24

Reuters
A view of the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park at sunset, in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

Giant robots and futuristic cyberpunk castles rise out of lush mountain slopes on the outskirts of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.

Welcome to China's first virtual reality theme park, which aims to ride a boom in demand for virtual entertainment that is set to propel tenfold growth in the country's virtual reality market, to hit almost $US8.5 billion by 2020.

The 330-acre (134-hectare) park in southwestern Guizhou province promises 35 virtual reality attractions, from shoot-'em-up games and virtual rollercoasters to tours with interstellar aliens of the region's most scenic spots.

"After our attraction opens, it will change the entire tourism structure of Guizhou province as well as China's southwest," Chief Executive Chen Jianli told Reuters.

"This is an innovative attraction, because it's just different," he said in an interview at the park, part of which is scheduled to open next February.

The $US1.5-billion Oriental Science Fiction Valley park, is part of China's thrust to develop new drivers of growth centred on trends such as gaming, sports and cutting-edge technology, to cut reliance on traditional industries.

Reuters
A worker rides on a cart in front of a giant robot statue at the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

In the push to become a centre of innovative tech, Guizhou is luring firms such as Apple Inc, which has sited its China data centre there, while the world's largest radio telescope is in nearby Pingtang county.

The park says it is the world's first of its kind, although virtual reality-based attractions from the United States to Japan already draw interest from consumers and video gamers seeking a more immersive experience.

The Guiyang park will offer tourists bungee jumps from a huge Transformer-like robot, and a studio devoted to producing virtual reality movies. Most rides will use VR goggles and motion simulators to thrill users.

"You feel like you're really there," said Qu Zhongjie, the park's manager of rides. "That's our main feature."

China's virtual reality market is expected to grow tenfold to 55.6 billion yuan ($US8.4 billion) by the end of the decade, state-backed think-tank CCID has said.

Farmers in the nearby village of Zhangtianshui said they were concerned about pollution from big developments, but looked forward to the economic benefits a new theme park would bring. Most were less sure about virtual battles or alien invasions, though.

"There are lots of good things that come out of these projects," one farmer, Liu Guangjun, told Reuters. "As for the virtual reality, I don't really understand it."

Reuters
A staff member demonstrates a test-run of the virtual reality (VR) attraction "Explore the Stars", at the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

Source: Reuters Editor: Wang Qingchu


Virtual reality boom brings giant robots, cyberpunk castles to China

 

[JSCh]

Traditional Chinese cultural activity held in Guizhou
Source:Xinhua Published: 2017/11/24 21:26:59

Pupils attend a first writing ceremony during a traditional Chinese cultural activity in Xingyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Nov. 24, 2017. Photo: Xinhua

Pupils recite the Dizigui, a Chinese book dating back more than 300 years that lays out standards for being a good child and student, during a traditional Chinese cultural activity in Xingyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Nov. 24, 2017.Photo: Xinhua

Pupils attend a first writing ceremony during a traditional Chinese cultural activity in Xingyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Nov. 24, 2017.Photo: Xinhua

Pupils recite the Dizigui, a Chinese book dating back more than 300 years that lays out standards for being a good child and student, during a traditional Chinese cultural activity in Xingyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Nov. 24, 2017.Photo: Xinhua

 

[JSCh]

Miao New Year's celebrations kick off in Guizhou
Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2017/11/24 14:46:25

People of the Miao ethnic group hold a national flag during a parade to celebrate their new year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. More than 5,000 Miao people from home and abroad participated in the celebration and 13 Miao cultural heritage items were exhibited during the parade. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao women take part in a parade to celebrate their new year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao women take part in a parade to celebrate their new year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Models wear Miao costumes during a ceremony to celebrate Miao New Year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao women deliver a performance during a ceremony to celebrate the Miao New Year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao women from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region take part in a parade to celebrate their new year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao men play lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument, during a parade to celebrate their new year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao women raise their glasses to a man during a ceremony to celebrate Miao New Year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

Miao people deliver a performance of toasting during a ceremony to celebrate Miao New Year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

A crowd watches a ceremony to celebrate Miao New Year in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on November 23, 2017. Photo: Chinanews.com

 

[AndrewJin]

Year-end updates
Zunyi City of Guizhou Province in 2017
ranked 99th in 2016 GDP ranking

The provincial capitals are usually the strongest city in the province.
But cities outside the capital are of equal importance.
Developed provinces always have more than one economic centre.
For example in Jiangsu Province, Suzhou is stronger than Nanjing.

Zunyi City and Zunyi Conference are very important to China's modern history.
Zunyi Conference relics and the old downtown

A small city on the rise
One million population in the downtown (total population 6 million including 14 county-level areas)

Expressway over Wu River

Expressway, Wu River Town by Wu River

@Kaptaan @Götterdämmerung @sinait @DESERT FIGHTER @Dalit @Gibbs @Godman @AViet @TaiShang et al

 

[AndrewJin]

continued

Year-end updates
Zunyi City of Guizhou Province in 2017

New Countryside Construction
Local governments receive funding and tech support from the upper-level governments, redesign villages with construction of modern infrastructure, upgrading farming, creating jobs in tourism and village-owned industries.

Housing provision is free, agricultural experts are living with farmers.
Experts will designate a certain industry to a village, every family will be taken into consideration.
This is one aspect of Xi's precise poverty alleviation initiative, money will be spent for the long-term development as opposed to in a food-coupon style shortsighted manner.

@powastick @cirr @Bussard Ramjet @JSCh @TaiShang et al

 

[Aung Zaya]

certainly stunning pic of Guizhou.

 

[AndrewJin]

continued

Year-end updates
Zunyi City of Guizhou Province in 2017

Maotai is one of the most famous and most expensive spirit in China.
It is produced in the beautiful Maotai Town, which is administered by Huai'ren City under Zunyi City.
Maotai Town has received huge funding in recent years to upgrade its industry.

Expressway to the town

Tourism becomes the key industry in Maotai Town

Spirit factory

At night

certainly stunning pic of Guizhou.

Welcome!

 

[TaiShang]

New railway links Chongqing and Guiyang

Xinhua, January 26, 2018



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

 

[AndrewJin]

New railway links Chongqing and Guiyang

Xinhua, January 26, 2018



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)



A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Move beyond nature!

 

[AndrewJin]

Inside China's poorest province
Tongren to Huaihua Expressway under CONSTRUCTION!

 

[AndrewJin]

Infra maintenance is no easier than building it
Workers examine railway bridge everyday for safety in China's Guizhou

Bridge maintenance workers work under the arch of the Beipanjiang railway bridge in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2018. The high-speed railway bridge, 721 meters in length, is a part of the Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway line, which links the country's prosperous eastern coast with the less-developed southwest. Maintenance workers examine the bridge everyday to make sure the safety of the railway line. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

@JSCh @terranMarine @chengdusudise @TaiShang et al

 

[JSCh]

Virtual reality boom brings giant robots, cyberpunk castles to China
Reuters 10:17 UTC+8, 2017-11-24

Reuters
A view of the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park at sunset, in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

Giant robots and futuristic cyberpunk castles rise out of lush mountain slopes on the outskirts of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.

Welcome to China's first virtual reality theme park, which aims to ride a boom in demand for virtual entertainment that is set to propel tenfold growth in the country's virtual reality market, to hit almost $US8.5 billion by 2020.

The 330-acre (134-hectare) park in southwestern Guizhou province promises 35 virtual reality attractions, from shoot-'em-up games and virtual rollercoasters to tours with interstellar aliens of the region's most scenic spots.

"After our attraction opens, it will change the entire tourism structure of Guizhou province as well as China's southwest," Chief Executive Chen Jianli told Reuters.

"This is an innovative attraction, because it's just different," he said in an interview at the park, part of which is scheduled to open next February.

The $US1.5-billion Oriental Science Fiction Valley park, is part of China's thrust to develop new drivers of growth centred on trends such as gaming, sports and cutting-edge technology, to cut reliance on traditional industries.

Reuters
A worker rides on a cart in front of a giant robot statue at the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

In the push to become a centre of innovative tech, Guizhou is luring firms such as Apple Inc, which has sited its China data centre there, while the world's largest radio telescope is in nearby Pingtang county.

The park says it is the world's first of its kind, although virtual reality-based attractions from the United States to Japan already draw interest from consumers and video gamers seeking a more immersive experience.

The Guiyang park will offer tourists bungee jumps from a huge Transformer-like robot, and a studio devoted to producing virtual reality movies. Most rides will use VR goggles and motion simulators to thrill users.

"You feel like you're really there," said Qu Zhongjie, the park's manager of rides. "That's our main feature."

China's virtual reality market is expected to grow tenfold to 55.6 billion yuan ($US8.4 billion) by the end of the decade, state-backed think-tank CCID has said.

Farmers in the nearby village of Zhangtianshui said they were concerned about pollution from big developments, but looked forward to the economic benefits a new theme park would bring. Most were less sure about virtual battles or alien invasions, though.

"There are lots of good things that come out of these projects," one farmer, Liu Guangjun, told Reuters. "As for the virtual reality, I don't really understand it."

Reuters
A staff member demonstrates a test-run of the virtual reality (VR) attraction "Explore the Stars", at the Oriental Science Fiction Valley theme park in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China November 16, 2017.

Source: Reuters Editor: Wang Qingchu


Virtual reality boom brings giant robots, cyberpunk castles to China

China’s first VR theme park opens in Guizhou Province, SW China
CGTN
Published on Apr 29, 2018

China's first virtual reality theme park, the Oriental Science Fiction Valley, opened on April 29, 2018 in the southwestern province of Guizhou. Dozens of sci-fi attractions provide visitors with a unique virtual experience.

 

[TaiShang]

China’s first VR theme park opens in Guizhou Province, SW China
CGTN
Published on Apr 29, 2018

China's first virtual reality theme park, the Oriental Science Fiction Valley, opened on April 29, 2018 in the southwestern province of Guizhou. Dozens of sci-fi attractions provide visitors with a unique virtual experience.

Boost for local tourism.

Infra maintenance is no easier than building it
Workers examine railway bridge everyday for safety in China's Guizhou

Bridge maintenance workers work under the arch of the Beipanjiang railway bridge in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 26, 2018. The high-speed railway bridge, 721 meters in length, is a part of the Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway line, which links the country's prosperous eastern coast with the less-developed southwest. Maintenance workers examine the bridge everyday to make sure the safety of the railway line. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
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@JSCh @terranMarine @chengdusudise @TaiShang et al

They are unseen/unknown heroes.

They create things, and they make things possible.

 

[JSCh]

This tech giant carved out a bomb shelter from a hill in remote China to house data

Many large technology companies – including Tencent, Alibaba, Foxconn and Apple – have shown strong support for Beijing’s goal to turn Guizhou province into a world-class hi-tech location

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 01 May, 2018, 6:30am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 01 May, 2018, 10:47am

The Guian Seven Stars Data Centre complex, the largest data centre facility of internet giant Tencent Holdings, is now under construction in Southwest China's mountainous Guizhou province. Photo: Handout

Iris Deng

Guizhou, a mountainous landlocked province in southwestern China, may have been dealt a poor hand with its topography, compared with the country’s economically vibrant coastal provinces where many industries are located.

But in a curious twist, that mountainous terrain is now helping put Guizhou, one of China’s poorest provinces, on the path to prosperity.

Major technology companies have made the province their prime location for vast new data centres to store, process and manage the prodigious amounts of information created by the digital revolution, social media, e-commerce, gaming, video streaming and all the online traffic from more than a billion WeChat users.

Tencent Holdings, Asia’s most valuable public company, already has construction underway for its largest such facility – the Guian Seven Stars Data Centre complex – at a new internet development zone and urban district in Guizhou.

An artist’s rendering of the Guian Seven Stars Data Centre complex in Guizhou province that is now under construction. Once completed, it will be internet giant Tencent Holdings’ largest data centre. Photo: Handout

Shenzhen-based Tencent has taken on the arduous challenge of building the complex on a 51-hectare site, which included more than 30,000 square metres of tunnelled areas inside a 100-metre-high hill.

Five cavelike entrances, each measuring about 15 metres high and divided into two floors each, were bored on one side of a hill, according to a footage that was recently broadcast by state media China Central Television (CCTV). The huge cavern create inside will house tens of thousands of servers for Tencent’s data.

A large, red metal gate has been installed at each of the cave entrances stands. The CCTV report said that each gate was built to the highest standards of civil air defence, which essentially makes Tencent’s new data centre complex a giant bombproof shelter.

By being built inside a hill, the data centre’s design reportedly takes full advantage of the area’s chilly weather to create a natural and effective cooling system for the servers.

Tencent, which runs the world’s largest video games business by revenue as well as the multi-purpose mobile messaging and social media app WeChat, started construction of its data centre in Guizhou in June last year.

Guizhou, one of China’s poorest provinces, is on the path to prosperity. Photo: Xinhua

The facility will store Tencent’s most essential data, said a statement from the Hong Kong- listed company.

In February, Apple transferred the storage and handling of photos, documents, messages and video of its iCloud customers in China to a local partner in Guizhou following the US technology giant’s announcement last year of a US$1 billion investment programme in the province.

Those infrastructure projects represent the strong commitment made by large technology companies to support Beijing’s goal of turning the economically underdeveloped province into a world-class hi-tech location.

China’s central government highlighted big data as a priority in 2014 as part of efforts to encourage more innovation as well as the upgrade of the country’s economic structure.

China’s central government highlighted big data as a priority in 2014 as part of efforts to encourage more innovation as well as the upgrade of the country’s economic structure. Photo: Xinhua

Guizhou’s provincial government, which has been promoting itself as a leader in the big data industry since 2014, has been offering incentives to attract various internet and cloud services companies, as well as data centre operators.

Its efforts have included establishing experimental hi-tech zones and pilot programmes, and giving discounts on electricity from the province’s bountiful supply of hydropower.

The province’s cool weather, lack of earthquake risk, inexpensive land and cheap hydropower have lured many companies to set up data centres there.

New York-listed Alibaba Group Holding, which is the parent of the South China Morning Post, signed a framework agreement with the Guizhou provincial government in 2014 to set up an industrial base for its cloud computing business and big data operations.

Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer known by its trade name Foxconn, set up a factory and a 500,000 square foot data centre in an industrial zone just outside Guiyang, the provincial capital.

Guizhou’s cool weather, lack of earthquake risk, inexpensive land and cheap hydropower has lured many companies to set up data centres there. Photo: Xinhua

The average annual temperature in Guian is about 14 degrees Celsius, with a topography that is about 1,200 metres in elevation. That means the data centre’s cooling system will directly benefit from the natural convection of air for about 70 per cent of the time each year, the CCTV report said.

An operating temperature of between 23 to 25 degrees Celsius is essential to the performance and longevity of a data centre, according to Schneider Electric, a European energy management and automation specialist. It said a data centre’s cooling system consumes the most electricity.

Other major enterprises that have set up their data centres in Guizhou included Huawei Technologies, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

Huawei, the world’s biggest telecommunications equipment supplier and China’s top smartphone brand, started building its new data centre in August last year right across Tencent’s construction site. Huawei will store data from its operations in more than 170 countries in the new facility, which will have room for up to 600,000 servers, according to a Xinhua report.

Guizhou has invested heavily to support its big data ambitions. Last year, it spent a total of 18 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion) in data transmission, software and information technology services, up nearly 70 per cent from 2016, according to the provincial statistics bureau.

A range of infrastructure investments last year cost 675.7 billion yuan, a 25.5 per cent from 2016. The Guizhou provincial government has been busy building motorways, roads and tunnels since 2015 to help put its hi-tech plans on the fast track.

Thanks to the huge investment, Guizhou’s economic output grew 10.2 per cent last year, making it the fastest-growing province in China and helping more residents escape poverty.

The provincial government has said more than seven million of the province’s 36 million inhabitants were lifted out of poverty between 2012 and 2016.

Still, one big issue for Guizhou and the companies that support the province’s hi-tech initiative is attracting skilled people to work there.

Out of a total population of 40 million, 11 million people in Guizhou live below China’s official rural poverty line of 2,300 yuan a year, according to the World Bank in 2016.



This tech giant carved out a bomb shelter from a hill in remote China to house data | South China Morning Post